EDINBURGH’S Hogmanay celebrations have come under fire after advertising for almost 300 unpaid workers to help run the event.
New organisers Underbelly – one of the Edinburgh Fringe’s biggest venue operators – are looking for a raft of volunteers to work up to 12 hours over New Year’s Eve.
It said the “ambassadors” would “help make this Hogmanay the greatest winter festival in the world”.
But critics accused the company, which boasts a multi-million pound turnover, of “exploiting” workers at one of the busiest times of the year.
Labour MSP Neil Findlay called on the organisers to “immediately” end the practice.
He said: “I find it absolutely outrageous that we have one of the busiest days of the year, bringing in probably one of the biggest incomes of the year to Edinburgh, and here we have a company exploiting that situation by attempting to take on hundreds of most likely young people for zero pay.
“This to me is a scandal and I would call on the organisers to immediately end this practice, and pay people at least a living wage for their hours.”
Edinburgh Council estimate the city's Hogmanay events bring in around £40 million every year, with tickets to the world-famous street party costing £26.
Advertising the volunteer positions, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay said its “street party hosts” would be the “welcoming faces” of the event.
It is also looking for unpaid supervisors and volunteer dancers “to be part of this amazing night”.
In return, volunteers will be provided with meal vouchers, “reasonable” travel expenses and a “personalised certificate” sent by email.
A spokeswoman for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay said it employs more than 1,700 staff – with no volunteers replacing a paid worker.
She said the volunteer roles “are there to provide opportunities for people who want to get involved in major international events either for experience, camaraderie or any other reason, and who choose to volunteer”.
She added: "Our Volunteer Charter formally lays out the commitments we’re making to volunteers which includes paid travel, subsistence expenses, training, access to other events at Edinburgh’s Hogmanay and a certificate for taking part.
"Volunteering is a fantastic way to get involved at a festival such as Hogmanay and has been shown to have many social and wellbeing benefits and we believe Hogmanay will be enriched by giving people the opportunity to be involved on a voluntary basis.
"Underbelly takes our role as an employer seriously and is, and always has been, committed to full paid employment across all our events, including the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh’s Christmas and Edinburgh’s Hogmanay.
“This ambassador scheme has been created to open up Edinburgh’s famous Hogmanay festival to more people but does not in any way replace any paid employment."
Unique Events, which previously ran the Hogmanay celebrations, confirmed it had used no volunteers.
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