The 195/2001 Law, known as the Volunteers Law, is in open debate to be altered. A first series of discussions took place at the Senate of Romania, in mid April this year. At the reunion, Members of the Parliament, representatives of the private companies lobbying for the practice of volunteering, as well as NGOs collaborating with volunteers, Foundation PACT included, worked together.
The first conclusion after the meeting was that the participants’ views differ, even antagonize sometimes; however, they expressed the will to work efficiently to harmonize their visions, to have a functioning law that genuinely encourages volunteering. Among the most debated topics, there were: paid vacation for volunteers, fiscal facilities for companies encouraging volunteering, (state imposed) volunteer management, volunteer contract and state support.
Several NGOs met in a round table, held at Soros Foundation headquarters, to present an integrated point of view. The legislative proposals resulted from NGO consultations were gathered in a single document sent today, May 21st, to the Senate of Romania, for centralizing. Your opinions on this Law are welcomed at the email
cabinetpresedinte@senat.ro . The text under debate can be accessed here, in Romanian language:
http://www.provobis.ro/downloads/Expunere_de_motive_si_legea_voluntariatului.pdf .
