In this Law, the following terms and phrases shall have the meanings assigned thereto, unless the context requires otherwise:

1. Voluntary Service: Any effort or work voluntarily carried out by a natural or legal person to serve the community.

2. Law: Voluntary Service Law.

3. Committee: The National Committee for Voluntary Service.

4. Volunteer: A person who carries out voluntary service without requiring financial or moral compensation.

5. Beneficiary: Any public or private non-profit entity which benefits from voluntary service.

6. Volunteer Team: A group of individuals who, under a unified leadership, carry out voluntary service to achieve common and specific objectives in accordance with specific policies and procedures supervised by the beneficiary.

The law aims to achieve the following:

• 1- Deleted.

• 2- Promote the culture of volunteer work among individuals and institutions in the community.

• 3- Organize the relationship between the parties involved in volunteer work, and define their rights and obligations.

• 4- Enhance the values of national belonging, humanitarian work, and social responsibility among individuals and institutions in the community.

• 5- Develop the capabilities of volunteers and direct them towards national priorities.

A national committee called the (National Committee for Voluntary Work) is established under the provisions of the Law, chaired by the Minister of Labor and Social Development, and consisting of the following members:

• 1- A representative from the Ministry of Labor and Social Development.

• 2- A representative from the Ministry of Education.

• 3- A representative from the Ministry of Health.

• 4- A representative from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

• 5- A representative from the Ministry of Media.

• 6- A representative from the Saudi Red Crescent Authority.

• 7- A representative from the General Directorate of Civil Defense.

• 8- A representative from the National Risk Unit.

• 9- A representative from the Saudi Arabian Scout Association.

• 10- One of the officials of the voluntary non-profit associations, chosen by the Minister of Labor and Social Development.

• 11- One of the individuals interested in voluntary work, chosen by the Minister of Labor and Social Development.

• 12- A representative from the National Center for Non-Profit Sector.

The committee shall have a secretariat at the National Center for Non-Profit Sector, and the chairperson of the committee shall appoint a rapporteur and a secretary from the staff of the center.

Committee membership term shall be four years, renewable once. The Committee Chairman shall select a deputy from among the representatives of government agencies in the Committee other than the representative of the Ministry of Labor and Social Development. The Committee may invite a nonmember to attend its meetings in a non-voting capacity.

The Committee shall meet at least twice a year upon a call by its Chairman. Committee meetings shall be deemed valid if attended by more than half of its members, provided the Chairman or his deputy is among the attendees. Committee decisions shall be passed by majority vote of attending members; in case of a tie, the meeting’s chairman shall have the casting vote. The Committee may hold extraordinary meetings if requested by the Chairman or by at least three of its members.

The Committee -within the limits of the provisions of the Law- is responsible for coordinating between the beneficiary entities and the relevant parties regarding volunteer work, and it specifically has the following duties:

• 1- Supervising the development and implementation of volunteer work strategies.

• 2- Deleted.

• 3- Supervising the databases related to volunteers.

• 4- Supporting the organization of conferences and seminars and encouraging research and studies related to volunteer work and working to activate them, in coordination with the relevant entities.

• 5- Highlighting volunteer efforts in the Kingdom at the national, regional, and international levels.

• 6- Preparing an annual report on volunteer work in the Kingdom.

• 7- Deleted.

The beneficiary shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Law, strive to facilitate voluntary service; in particular, it shall:

• 1. receive, review, and decide on voluntary service applications;

• 2. recruit volunteers from among its employees or others to participate in volunteer programs within or outside its premises, subject to relevant instructions; 3. create volunteer programs that serve its purposes; 4. train volunteers and enhance their skills in their field of specialty; and

• 5. follow up on the performance of volunteers, as well as guide and motivate them.

Volunteer teams may, upon registration and approval by the beneficiary, engage in voluntary service.

The beneficiary shall maintain a register named “Register of Volunteers and Volunteer Teams”, in which the names of volunteers, the number of volunteering hours, and the voluntary services they have performed with the beneficiary are entered.

A volunteer shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Law and within the powers and resources of the beneficiary, be entitled to the following from the beneficiary:

1. Training required for volunteer service.

2. Devices, tools, and clothes required for voluntary service.

3. Meals, transportation, and accommodation if voluntary service is carried out outside his area of residence.

4. Treatment if he is injured during training or voluntary service or during his commute to and from voluntary service.

5. An identification card from the beneficiary.

6. A volunteering certificate issued by the beneficiary indicating the type and duration of voluntary service, number of service hours, and experience gained therefrom.