When Sam Cassar was diagnosed with cancer, the first thought that crossed his mind was that this would cost him his family’s financial lifeline. But his employer immediately stepped in, promising that his job was secure despite the number of months he had to take off for treatment.

Personal assistant to the CEO Svetlana Gauci.

Mr Cassar, 31, punched out in December of last year and returned to work this month after recovering from lymphoma – a type of cancer involving the cells of the immune system.

Over the past months, the father of three, who had just taken out a home loan before falling ill, was financially supported by his employers and colleagues at the Malta Freeport.

But most importantly “a big weight was taken off his mind” when he was told his job was secure. And this, he says, probably played a role in his recovery.

“While receiving treatment, human resources coordinator Nicholas Abdilla would call me once or twice a week. Whenever he spoke to me, he would say: ‘Focus on your health. Your job is secure. Once you regain your health, come back to work’,” Mr Cassar told this newspaper during his first week back.

Asked whether it was easier for the company to employ someone else in Mr Cassar’s absence, Svetlana Gauci, personal assistant to the CEO, said the man was important for the company as an individual. “We value every employee as a person and not just as a worker,” she said.

We value every employee as a person and not just as a worker

“The mention of the Freeport might bring to mind images of containers, trading, business and light and noise pollution – but we also have a heart for our employees,” she added.

Mr Cassar noted that he felt valued by the company, even when his performance started deteriorating months before the diagnosis, when he still did not know he was ill.

He had spent six years “brimming with vigour” and working as a rubber tyred gantry (RTG) crane operator. Then all of a sudden, he started feeling tired and nauseous, negatively impacting his performance, and was eventually demoted to a tug truck driver.

His symptoms got worse, and he started suspecting that he was suffering from something serious. Several tests later, he was diagnosed with lymphoma.

“Working at the Freeport was my lifetime dream, and the first thing that came to mind when I was diagnosed was that I had lost my job and I would have to start looking for another one if I got any better.”

But after the reassurance he received from his employer, every time he underwent a chemo cycle he would tell himself he needed to get better and go back to work.

“When you are ill, the bills continue to arrive, while your mind starts racing: you question whether you will live and wonder whether your children are well. Job security and financial support gave me great peace of mind.”

Once he ran out of sick leave, which he had accumulated over six years, Mr Cassar was supported through the welfare fund set up by the Freeport employees themselves.

The 788 employees contribute to this fund monthly, supporting employees in need like Mr Cassar and their next of kin. In the meantime, his colleagues also collected some money to support him further.

Mr Cassar was given the all-clear September 15 and returned to work less than a month later.

He is now engaged with operating a tug truck, which is what he was doing before being diagnosed, but is determined to work his way back to RTG operator.