Civil protection in Germany relies on volunteers. However, there are no uniform regulations for volunteers throughout Germany. In Germany, whether there are continued salary payments or social security depends on both the federal state and the type of aid organization. While the volunteer fire department and the THW, as state organizations, offer continued pay in the event of an emergency, helpers from private aid organizations often have to forgo their wages if they leave their workplace. This is why several private as well as public emergency response organizations are calling for equal pay for helpers. On the one hand, this should make volunteering more attractive and, on the other, send a signal that all helping hands count equally.
Source: Behörden Spiegel