NEWPORT council is set to give its support to a campaign aimed at protecting staff who become terminally ill.

Cabinet members will be asked to add the authority's name to the TUC's Dying to Work charter at a meeting on Wednesday - a campaign calling for greater support to be given to staff with a terminal illness.

The campaign wants staff to with a terminal illness to be given a ‘protected period’ where they could not be dismissed as a result of their condition.

By signing the charter the city council would need to review sick pay and sickness absence procedures and ensure that an Employee Assistance Programme is in place.

Newport would become the fifth council in Wales to add its name to the charter, and the second in Gwent after Caerphilly.

IN OTHER NEWS: Blaenau Gwent property bought for just £4k through the Right to Buy scheme was later sold for £250k

Drug dealer David Szkudlarek who sold drugs to children jailed

Commenting on a report, cabinet member for community and resources Cllr David Mayer said: "No employee of the council who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness should be dismissed because of their condition or absence they have taken as a result of their condition.

"Managers should treat such staff with sensitivity and respect and work with them and their families to either maintain the ability to attend work at a future point, or allow the individual to best determine when they may wish to consider the right time to cease employment.

"I recommend that cabinet approve this report and instruct officers to make arrangements for us to sign the charter."

Rhys Cornwall, head of people and business change at the council, said signing the charter would further add to the council's supportive stance of helping staff with a terminal illness.

Mr Cornwall said it would be 'straightforward' to make a commitment in the council's management of attendance policy that the council will not dismiss any person with a terminal diagnosis because of their condition.

More than 837,000 companies have also signed the charter, which has been drawn up in the absence of legislation on the issue.