They are the lowest paid in society, yet among the most crucial chest wouldn't survive without them.

And as the country grapples with Corona virus more than ever, we need to ask what happens when these workers get it?

One time, a patient asked me, Why did you come to work sick?

I had to explain.

Unfortunately, we're not paid if we stay at home and I can't afford that being on minimum wage.

In an exclusive for Channel four News, the GM be union surveyed cleaners, porters and security guards employed by contractors for the N Hs.

78% said they're entitled to know Pay a tall for the 1st 3 days are off sick, and after that they only get the statutory payment of £94 a week.

As a result, 77% said they come into work unwell to avoid losing pay.

Annetta was one of those.

Until recently, she worked at an N hs hospital, where her duties included serving meals and caring for patients.

Now she wants to raise the alarm, believing patients are being put at risk.

We're protecting her identity.

So her words were spoken by an actor.

I was working in the maternity ward.

The ladies there were giving birth, and they're more vulnerable than any of us.

They were asking me Why you coming into work if you're feeling sick?

So I had to prepare myself not to sneeze or cough.

I was hiding my sickness.

I was really struggling.

Most of my colleagues were coming in sick as well.

Tens of thousands of people working in hospitals are employed by private contractors.

Up to 40% of N HS trusts in England used them.

We contacted eight major contractors working in the N HS.

50% of them told us they only pay out the legal minimum of sick pay to some of the workers.

I was talking to our managers.

I was telling them I'm sneezing and coughing on.

Basically, they were telling us they can't do anything about it because of the terms and conditions.

If you sign it, you have to work because you signed a contract on the contract says you don't have sick pay.

The idea of workers coming into hospital sick may seem especially alarming while the country's worried about Corona virus.

But for some, it's long been a struggle.

Channel four News has learned of a least six cases in London hospitals, where a contract worker with cancer was told they're not entitled to sick pay on the problem goes beyond hospitals.

Two security guards at ST George's University in south London have been repeatedly taking strike action there.

Just some of the employees on low wages in various industries, fighting for full, sick pay and their supporters on the picket line include the rapper Drill Minister Theo University directed us to the contractor who employs the security guards here.

Bid Vest Noonan, who told us, We are on award winning service provider with a long track record in looking after our people and our statutory compliant.

The union representing the security guards argue it's one example of many where a company is making financial savings at a human cost.

We have a case after case after case be a cleaner Security guards caters waiters, porters and hospitals at transporting patients from surgeries to recovery rooms, and they are going into work with flu with germs or in more severe cases with actual broken bones.

Sometimes you're seeing work is going to work with broken bones.

Some of the employees would argue that if they paid out sick pay in the way that you're advocating, they go bust.

Every worker should be able to afford to get ill, and millions of workers in the UK today simply can't afford to get up on it.

It's not fair that workers should be having the wages cut from Day one of illness when companies could afford to pay it.

Theme is the building where Channel four News is made are also seeking sick pay.

We've contacted the contractor who employs them for a response and have yet to hear back through.

Government says.

Sick pay remains at the discretion of employers and anyone not eligible conclude I'm universal credit if forced to stay at home by Corona virus.

But the epidemic exposes how so many low paid workers, especially in the N hs, feel they can't afford not to go into work.

And that could make containing the spread of the virus more difficult.