Volunteers cannot be paid for their work in any way, not even by the beneficiary. Volunteers may be reimbursed by the organisation through which they are carrying out the activity only for expenses actually incurred and documented for the activity performed, within pre-established limits. A flat-rate reimbursement of expenses is, however, prohibited. Expenses incurred by volunteers may also be reimbursed upon provision of self-certification, as long as these expenses do not exceed a small, fixed amount and provided that the types of expenses and the voluntary work for which this form of reimbursement is allowed are decided by the relevant associative body. In any event, voluntary work relating to the donation of blood and organs is excluded from these rules.
The role of the volunteer is incompatible with any form of subordinate or autonomous employment relationship, or with any other paid employment relationship with the organisation of which volunteers are a member or partner or through which they carry out their voluntary work. However, these provisions do not apply to certain categories, such as volunteers in the Universal Civil Service or staff employed abroad on a voluntary basis in international development cooperation activities, as well as agents of the National Alpine and Cave Rescue Corps.
Third sector organisations that make use of volunteers must insure them against accidents and illnesses related to the volunteer work, as well as for third party civil liability.
Interested EU citizens can consult the national association of Voluntary Service Centres (CSV) website (CSVnet) – the ‘Service Charters’ section at https://csvnet.it/csv/carte-servizi describes the ways in which you can access voluntary work and any necessary selection procedures for each Italian region.