With unions sounding the alarm over a spike in violations of worker rights, BIRN has identified a number of examples affecting particularly those on fixed-term contracts.

They range from sudden layoffs to workers forced to take unpaid leave, significant wage cuts and pressure on vulnerable categories of workers to forgo already-approved paid leave.

Those keeping the country functioning – from police officers to supermarket employees – complain of being forced to work overtime without compensation and, in many cases, having to pay out of their own pockets for protective equipment against the novel coronavirus.