Oldham Council has backed a campaign which aims to change the law to offer greater protections for workers with terminal illnesses.
The Dying to Work campaign, run by the TUC, calls for terminal illness to be made a ‘protected characteristic’ in law.
If successful, this would mean that workers diagnosed with terminal illness could enter a protected period in which they may not be dismissed as a result of their condition. At present there is no such protection in law.
Cllr Abdul Jabbar, Deputy Leader of Oldham Council, said: “Many people will be surprised to hear that there is currently no protection from dismissal for people with terminal illnesses.
“We’re proud to support the TUC’s campaign and I look forward to seeing how it progresses.”
As part of the organisation’s support for the campaign, Oldham Council has now signed and adopted the Dying to Work Charter which will see a number of positive changes to HR policies which support people with terminal illnesses.
A letter has also been sent to the Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions to express support for the campaign. The town’s three MPs are being asked to do the same.
Schools and other partner organisations which work closely with Oldham Council will also be encouraged to consider back the campaign and adopting the charter.
For more information, go online: https://www.tuc.org.uk/dying-work-campaign