With the definitive approval by the Senate, it becomes law The dl n. 1430which introduces new protections for i workers with oncological pathologieswhether they are employees or autonomous.
But the rule also applies to those suffering from chronic diseases or rarewith andisability equal to or greater than 74%.
More time for cure for workers with cancer
The text was dismissed unanimously by the Chamber and Senate and expands the duration of the period of delivery bringing it from 6 to 24 months. However, no right to remuneration is recognized during leave.
The provision is the result of an opposition legislative initiative (Debora Serracchiani of the Democratic Party), supported transversely by the majority (the rapporteur is Elena Murelli of the League).
With the new law on oncological workers we intervene on several fronts:
- There is the extension of the leave, as mentioned, for public or private employees who will be able to absent up to 24 months continuous or divided without losing their jobs;
- At the end of the leave there is a right of precedence in accessing smart working if compatible with duties;
- Starting from 2026 10 hours of paid leave for visits, exams and therapies will be recognized, on simple medical prescription;
- The leave period can be redeemed but will not be automatically calculated for social security purposes or in the seniority of service;
- The same package of permits applies to parents of workers of minor children suffering from serious oncological or chronic diseases;
- For self -employed workers, the new law provides for the possibility of suspending the activity up to 300 days a year if carried out continuously for a client.
The new rule is part of a wider context of recognition of the rights of people with serious pathologies, in the wake of the recent law on cancer oblivion.
The resources allocated For the implementation of the law are contained: they range from 20.9 million euros scheduled for 2026 to 25.2 million for 2035, while for the public sector only, such as the school, 1.24 million per year are expected from 2026.
The criticisms of the associations
Some associations, however, among which the Favo (the Italian Federation of Volunteer Associations in Oncology) is counted, express reservations about the actual scope of the provision, consider the rather disappointing result if compared to the initial proposal.
The critical points underlined by the associations mainly concern:
- the absence of remuneration during the 24 months of leave;
- the ban on carrying out other work activities including occasional;
- the limited extension of paid permits or only 10 hours a year;
- the lack of information obligations for employers on the end of the period of delivery.
Oncological workers forced to choose between salary and care
According to the data to the Italian Association of Medical Oncology) about 3.6 million people coexist with a tumor in Italy, including a third of working age. A large audience, often forced to choose between therapeutic continuity and employment. The National Oncological Plan 2023–2027 underlined the urgency to counter the abandonment of the work due to the disease, but this law, although improving, leaves the problem of the so -called “unsolved”financial toxicity“, A condition that already at the beginning of therapy affects 26% of patients and involves an increased risk of death of up to 20%.
By “financial toxicity” in oncology means the economic impact that disease and treatments have on patients and their families. Impact that can manifest itself in different forms, such as direct costs (medical expenses, drugs, transport) e indirect costs (loss of income due to the impossibility of working).
