PL MEP says Festa and Carnival volunteers should get extra leave

PL MEP Daniel Attard wants the European Union to legislate for the possibility of extra leave days for cultural volunteers.

Attard, who is leading the European Parliament’s work on the forthcoming European Strategy for Sustainable Tourism, has put forward proposals to ensure that cultural volunteering receives structured recognition and support at EU level, a statement by the Labour Party read. These include the establishment of a European Fund for Intangible Cultural Heritage, as well as a dedicated scheme to support and incentivise individuals who wish to develop their passion for arts and traditions into a professional pathway where feasible, it added.

“This creates a dual benefit: opportunities for specialisation and stronger quality and sustainability within our cultural offering,” Attard said. However, he added that professionalisation is not always possible or even desirable. “For this reason, in his report the Labour MEP is also calling for tangible recognition measures for volunteers, including, where feasible and within a balanced framework, the possibility of additional leave at European level as a form of compensation,” the PL statement said.

Attard noted that thousands of volunteers use their personal leave to work on carnival floats, fireworks, feast decorations and other cultural activities, often at the expense of time with their families.

“Such a measure would not constitute a burden on the economy, but an investment. Intangible cultural heritage is an essential component of our tourism product, through which we generate and distribute wealth across society,” Attard said.

He added that any such measures must be designed responsibly and with full respect for labour market realities, while adequately reflecting the value that volunteers contribute to both national and European identity.

Attard said that without volunteers there would be no carnival, no village feasts and no living traditions.  “Our culture extends far beyond these events, yet they remain a central pillar of what defines us as Maltese,” Attard stated.

“By recognising and incentivising the work of volunteers, we are investing not only in culture, but in the economic and social future of our country and of Europe,” Daniel Attard concluded.

RSS Feed Source: Independent Malta PL MEP says Festa and Carnival volunteers should get extra leave