Deputy PM: Break the taboo on cancer and work

Minister Lodewijk Asscher of Social Affairs wants to break through the taboo of people suffering of cancer and working regular jobs. The Minister will launch an investigation into a possible test with a so-called no-risk policy, in which employers can hire someone with cancer and work harder at reintegration without any financial risk, the Telegraaf reports. Improved treatments are making cancer a less fatal disease. This has resulted in more and more people wanting to return to work sooner, even if they have not completely recovered their health yet. But companies are often hesitant to take on someone who has, or recently had, cancer due to the financial risk. Asscher hopes to break this taboo with this no-risk policy he plans on testing. He also wants to increase cancer patients and ex-cancer patients' chances at finding work by having the topic discussed more often. For this he will launch a study in the work place to clearly establish the difficulties faced by both employer and employee when an employee is diagnosed with cancer.