[Nicky91]

https://wiwibloggs.com/2019/11/23/sh...nks-so/245699/

Is it fair that volunteer positions at Eurovision are unpaid? Well Rotterdam’s local faction of the Socialist Party doesn’t think so. In fact, they’ve now stated they will question the city council directly about the advertisement for delegation hosts.

Every single year, the host broadcaster asks for volunteers to help delegations navigate through the Eurovision host city. However, this year’s call for delegation hosts was met with controversy over the high bar set for hosts (three languages preferred; must know Rotterdam; must work round-the-clock) and the fact the work is unpaid (must provide own travel costs; must cover one’s own food; must take care of accommodation independently).

The Netherlands has slashed subsidies in the arts sector in recent years and Rotterdam isn’t without pockets of poverty. Taken together, those realities have caused many to view the unpaid Eurovision work as exploitation. Critics don’t think it’s fair that a full-time position doesn’t merit any pay.

Aart van Zevenbergen, the leader of the local Socialist Party, told Dagblad010:
“The Rotterdam Socialist Party faction thinks it is strange that there are such high requirements for a volunteering position and that the volunteer is not getting any compensation or salary. Because of that we would like to debate with the city council and the alderman on the employability of volunteers at the Eurovision Song Contest.”

To many the argument is rather strange. Volunteer positions are by their very nature positions that don’t result in pay, but rather in enriching experiences. In this instance, volunteers get to see a side of Eurovision that nobody else usually sees. And, as the advertisement makes clear, volunteers can expand their international contacts and add a unique experience to their CV. Plus folks get to practice their language skills.

Eurovision is not the only place where full-time volunteers are sought and without pay. At big events, such as the Olympic Games, the same type of people are also requested. For the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, volunteers are asked to look for their own accommodation and do not receive any compensation. They do receive 1000 yen (about €8.30) for their daily travel expenses.

NPO has defended their call for volunteers, stating that the position gives a lot back to the applicants. On top of that, they announced that there is a lot of interest in the position and over 200 people have applied since the opening of the vacancy.

A spokesperson from NPO told A
“It’s very common for a big event like the Eurovision Song Contest to use volunteers. 80,000 volunteers will be used at the Tokyo Olympics. It is a unique experience that fans stand in line for.”

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so what does everyone in here think, volunteers at big events such as Eurovision, Junior Eurovision, and both Summer/Winter Olympics, Euro Cup football, World Cup football

[Morgan.]

Isn’t the whole point of a volunteer that it is unpaid?

[Crimson Dynamo]

yes pay the £10 an hour

the NHS is on its knees FFS

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by Morgan.

Isn’t the whole point of a volunteer that it is unpaid?

true, but volunteers do ''pay'' like travel costs for example, and i guess they do deserve some form of compensation for hard work, paying for their own travel costs

maybe holidays after the events with 50% discounts should be an idea

[Morgan.]

Originally Posted by Nicky91

true, but volunteers do ''pay'' like travel costs for example, and i guess they do deserve some form of compensation for hard work, paying for their own travel costs

maybe holidays after the events with 50% discounts should be an idea

They know what they sign up to when they ask to be a volunteer. If they can’t afford to fund it for themselves, or think it’s too much work, they shouldn’t sign up.

[Twosugars]

it depends
sometimes volunteers get travel and food money
but work should be unpaid, that's the whole point of volunteering

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by Twosugars

it depends
sometimes volunteers get travel and food money
but work should be unpaid, that's the whole point of volunteering

this honestly, but i do happen to know, via Ilinca's vlogs back in 2017, i saw entire romanian delegation in Kiev in those vlogs, and they had a decent location for hotel, places to eat etc

and it had basically everyone in the delegation, volunteers included


and some of the volunteers there got appreciation for hard work, by getting invited for the euroclub, to watch some of the artists perform, just to see where they work hard for to make this possible


so for them getting respected, appreciated is also great

[Twosugars]

Originally Posted by Nicky91

this honestly, but i do happen to know, via Ilinca's vlogs back in 2017, i saw entire romanian delegation in Kiev in those vlogs, and they had a decent location for hotel, places to eat etc

and it had basically everyone in the delegation, volunteers included


and some of the volunteers there got appreciation for hard work, by getting invited for the euroclub, to watch some of the artists perform, just to see where they work hard for to make this possible


so for them getting respected, appreciated is also great

Yes Nicky, well said