Cancer treatments will not be an obstacle to keeping your job.

ROME (EFE)—The Italian Parliament yesterday approved a law that guarantees that cancer patients, those with chronic conditions, or those with “rare” illnesses will retain their jobs for up to two years, preventing them from losing them during treatment.

The bill received unanimous support from all Senate groups, resulting in its final approval after it was previously processed in the Chamber of Deputies on March 26.

In its first article, it decrees that employees of public or private companies who suffer from oncological, disabling, chronic, or rare diseases with a disability level of at least 74% "may request a period of leave, whether continuous or partial, not exceeding 24 months."

During this time, the affected person "will retain his or her job," although "he or she will not be entitled to remuneration or be able to perform any other type of work."

This withdrawal will also be compatible with the receipt of any pensions, aid, and economic and legal benefits, but will not count toward contributions or future retirement.

Once the two-year leave period ends, employees who have held their position during that time will have "priority" to request teleworking from their company, "as long as their work permits."

Furthermore, the law establishes that these workers will be entitled to ten additional paid hours per year to undergo tests or analyses, provided they have a medical prescription.