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Published on Tuesday 11 July 2006, Modified on Friday 23 April 2010

Social benefits for employees of Volontariat and Atelier Shanti

Rules and regulations have been developed by Volontariat to cover the various cases that may arise: office hours, overtime hours, health matters and medical leave, loan scheme, salary scale etc.

If an application falls outside the framework of the provisions that follow, a decision may be taken by a panel of In-charges who have to justify it, in order to avoid any dispute at a later time.

Social Security Schemes of Volontariat:

1. All employees, after one year of probation, are registered in the national pension scheme, called the Employees Provident Funds (EPF), with an equal contribution every month of the employee and the employer Volontariat. The Government contributes at the time when the employee or his/her family closes the scheme.

2. The consultations given by any doctor appointed by Volontariat and his/her prescriptions, homeopathic or allopathic are free for all those who work in Volontariat and Atelier Shanti. It is the same for dental care from the Volontariat dentist. Employees are free to consult any doctor, but the reimbursement will not be made automatically in such a case. Hospitalization fees are generally supported, partly or fully, by the organization when the patient is referred to the hospital by the Volontariat doctor or dentist. This rule does not apply for emergency cases.

3. An employee may be granted an interest-free loan for a stated expense: to pay his/her debts (with documentary evidence), repair the home, buy a plot for housing, build a house, buy a two-wheeler or perform the marriage of one of his/her children. The loan amount depends on the salary and the seniority of the person and the nature of the expense, the maximum amount repayable each month and the duration of recovery.

4. At Atelier Shanti, from the beginning, it was recognized that the workers were handicapped, due to leprosy or other physical disability. Some of them have enjoyed the benefit of a small, one-room house with a token charge for rent, water and electricity. Their children are included in the sponsorship programme of Volontariat, with all the advantages of school supplies, tuition, school uniform, midday meals, tutoring, summer camps, etc.

5. Free meals are provided to the very old and destitute persons who live in the neighbourhood of Volontariat. A few persons with severe physical disabilities also receive benefits, like free medical care and meals.

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