Civic service: Volunteers will be able to reinforce emergency missions in the event of a major crisis

Since 11 July, volunteers under a civic service contract may take exceptional leave to take part temporarily in missions of general interest organized to deal with situations of major crisis.

Who can benefit from this exceptional leave?

Any person already volunteering in civic service, i.e. a young person engaged (from 16 to 25 years and up to 30 years in case of disability) in a mission of general interest in the service of the community, for a fixed period of 6 to 12 months and receiving compensation.

In what situations can this leave be requested?

Leave is used to take part in missions of general interest organized in response to a natural calamity (e.g. severe heat event, large-scale fire or flood, pandemic...).)

The volunteer must be assigned to specific missions aimed at:

• the protection of populations;
• the supply of essential goods;
• meeting the priority needs of the Nation;
• the preservation of the environment

What is the duration of this leave?

Anyone already volunteering in civic service, can apply an exceptional week's leave, renewable up to a maximum of one month.

The time spent by the volunteer on his emergency mission counts as normal civic service time. This period shall be taken into account in the duration of his appointment. The initial contract is therefore neither suspended nor extended.

How do I request this leave?

The volunteer shall present:

• a written request to the body in which he carries out his civic service contract;
• proof from the organization with which he intends to engage during this period of leave, specifying the duration of his absence and the nature of the mission carried out.

The body, within which the volunteer performs his civic service contract, shall have 2 working days to answer. In the absence of a reply within that period, the agreement shall be deemed to have been reached.

Who is responsible for the compensation to be paid to the volunteer?

The organization to which the volunteer has committed during his exceptional leave must pay him his allowance for the duration of the emergency mission.