Breaking Down Barriers: New Decree Supports Cancer Survivors in the Workplace
Italy has taken a significant step towards supporting cancer survivors in their return to work, with the introduction of a new inter-ministerial decree. This decree aims to ensure that individuals who have overcome cancer have equal opportunities in the workplace, including access to services, career development, and fair remuneration. The move is a crucial part of the implementation of the law on oncological oblivion, which was passed two years ago.
A New Beginning for Cancer Survivors
The decree assimilates individuals who have recovered from cancer to those with fragile conditions, providing them with access to various benefits and protections. These include the Guarantee of Employability of Workers (Gol) program, the New Skills Fund, the Inclusion Allowance, and Support for Training and Work. Additionally, “reasonable accommodations” can be activated to support these individuals, as defined by laws transposing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. According to the Minister of Labor, Marina Calderone, “recovery must coincide with a new beginning, free from fears, prejudices, and unjustified barriers.”
Support from Patient Associations
Patient associations, such as the Federation of Associations for Volunteering in Oncology (Favo), have welcomed the decree as a “fundamental piece” in giving full concreteness to the law on oncological oblivion. Favo’s secretary, Elisabetta Iannelli, appreciates that the Ministry has implemented the observations presented, including the recognition of individuals undergoing adjuvant treatments or follow-up as recipients of work inclusion policies. The Italian Association of Medical Oncology (Aiom) also applauds the decree, stating that it represents a further step forward in extending protections and guarantees for cancer patients who can be considered cured.
Implementation of the Law
The decree is part of the implementation process of Law 193/2023 on oncological oblivion, which is now almost entirely completed. A recent provision by Ivass, the insurance supervisory institute, ensures that companies must adapt to the rule, which guarantees that people who have recovered from cancer have the right not to provide information on their illness and not to undergo investigations. The only remaining provision needed for the total implementation of the law is from the Interministerial Committee for Credit and Savings (Cicr) for the banking sector.
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