Next week marks the European Week against Cancer. As a member of MEPs Against Cancer intergroup, I would like to take this opportunity to raise a key campaign started in my region after a constituent was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
When it comes to cancer we often focus on prevention and treatment, such as promoting a healthy lifestyle and working together across the EU to develop lifesaving treatments. But what about those for whom treatment isn't an option?
I am working with the UK Trade Union Congress' (TUC) Dying to Work campaign, which is seeking better employment protection for employees with a terminal illness.
People are sometimes surprised to hear that people with a terminal illness want to continue to work. Some assume that all sufferers would want to leave work as soon as they have been diagnosed.
However, this is not always the case. Not everyone who has a terminal illness will want to give up their job.
Some might not even be able to, due to financial circumstances. There are still bills to pay and for some, extra mouths to feed.
For many people, continuing to work is about keeping some sense of routine and focus, much needed when dealing with the dreadful news of finding out that you have a terminal illness, which can turn someone's world upside down.
Take my constituent Jacci for instance. Jacci was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer in 2012. She had planned to continue to work, not only because she was a single mother and therefore financially it was necessary, but also because she enjoyed her work.
Jacci informed her employer that she had been given this heartbreaking diagnosis, expecting support and appropriate measures to be put in place.
However, Jacci received no support, and in fact her employer tried to unfairly dismiss her. Thankfully for Jacci, her trade union was there to support her and they successfully challenged her employer.
However, what about those people who aren't so lucky? Many people in Jacci's situation wouldn't want to spend the precious time they have left fighting with their employers. The last thing that people need when they have been diagnosed with a terminal illness is to have to worry about losing their job.
People with a terminal illness who are able to work and want to work should be allowed and helped to do so.
The Dying to Work campaign wants to see 'terminal illness' classed as a protected characteristic, meaning that an employee cannot be dismissed due to having terminal cancer. We are calling for EU legislation, similar to the pregnant workers directive, which would protect these vulnerable workers.
It is about giving people dignity, the dignity to continue to work if they are able to do so. We also need to protect employees' death in service benefits, which are lost if you are dismissed.
This benefit linked to workers' employment contracts can be used to cover funeral costs and can ease the financial burden of the family left behind. The Dying to Work campaign started in the UK, but we know that terminal illnesses such as terminal cancers, affect people across the EU.
In fact, cancer caused over one million deaths in the EU in 2012, with the highest rates of prevalence in the Netherlands, Slovenia and Denmark.
The European Cancer Patients Coalition has confirmed that many cancer patients suffer unfair treatment at work once they disclose that they have cancer. It is simply unacceptable that patients have to fight to continue to work when also trying to fight a deadly illness.
In the UK, the issue has been raised to the Prime Minister in the UK Parliament and the campaign has received cross party support. The TUC has also drafted a negotiators guide to assist trade union representatives in supporting any members with a terminal illness.
However, it is not only up to trade unions to do the right thing. We are calling on employers to commit to treating their employees with a terminal illness with respect.
I was delighted that the European employer E.ON recently signed up to Dying to Work's voluntary charter, committing to supporting any of their employees with a terminal illness. I hope that other EU companies will also sign this charter and commit to treating their staff with dignity.
Workers' rights are at the heart of the EU and that is why we want better EU protection for employees with a terminal illness. I have been touched by the support offered by fellow MEPs for the Dying to Work campaign.
Since the European launch in the European Parliament last June we have gathered support from MEPs from different political groups across the EU. British trade union representatives have visited the Parliament to speak to MEPs at the trade union intergroup and they were delighted to receive support from European Parliament President Martin Schulz during their last visit.
The EU has a proud record of protecting workers across Europe. I will continue to fight for better employment protection for people like my constituent Jacci who is determined to spend what time she has left fighting for the rights of employees with a terminal illness. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect in the workplace and that most certainly includes people with terminal cancer.