Volunteering for the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) should be as compatible as possible with working hours. Events that give rise to deployments do not only happen after work or during vacation periods, but also during working hours.

If you employ people who work as THW volunteers, you should always agree with your employees in advance how and when assignments are possible.

Privately employed THW helpers will continue to receive their salary as usual regardless of a THW assignment. This applies to ordered deployments, exercises, training courses and other training events.

Private employers have the option of applying for reimbursement of the salary continued to be paid during a THW assignment if they are absent for more than two hours a day or more than seven hours within two weeks for the entire period of absence.

Self-employed persons have the option of applying for compensation for loss of earnings as a result of their assignment.

The above applications must be submitted to the responsible THW local association or the responsible THW regional office.

THW helpers who receive benefits from the Federal Employment Agency, social assistance or other benefits from public funds will continue to receive these benefits as usual regardless of a THW deployment. Public employers will not be reimbursed for the loss of benefits.