My name is Carlos and I am a 54-year-old pizza chef from Sao Paulo, Brazil. I work for Pizza Pilgrims.

I had to take time off as annual leave to recover from a cancer operation because I don’t get proper sick pay. I’ve been working for Pizza Pilgrims for nearly four years.

Pizza Pilgrims don’t give their workers full sick pay. All we get is statutory sick pay which isn’t enough to live on.

Last year, I discovered I had prostate and kidney cancer. At the end of November, I had an operation to get the cancer removed and had to take time off as annual leave so I could continue to pay my rent and bills. But I had to return to work after six weeks to make ends meet, the following month I passed out at work and was found in a pool of my own blood.

I was rushed to hospital where I was given ten stitches in my head. While in hospital, I caught Covid-19 and had to miss even more work so I could self-isolate. I’ve just learnt I have a stone in my bladder and a hernia. I need a further operation to get these removed and my doctor has told me I will need to take five weeks off work after surgery. I am going to struggle to get by because I don’t get proper sick pay.

Thankfully my fellow workers at Pizza Pilgrims are trying to raise money to support me while I am off sick and have joined United Voices of the World trade union to fight for full sick pay. If the company won't look out for us we must look out for each other.