May Day Rallies: Workers Demand Better Labour Conditions

On May 1, people worldwide marked International Workers' Day, also known as May Day, with rallies calling for better labour conditions, including reduced working hours, higher salaries, and better working conditions.

This year's events had a larger turnout than previous years, with opposition to the impact of governments' economic plans on workers.

In France, the rallies were massive, with unions protesting against the President's proposal to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

In Pakistan, authorities banned rallies in some cities due to security concerns, but trade unions still held indoor events to demand better workers' rights.

In South Korea, participants accused the conservative government of clamping down on unions in the name of reforming alleged irregularities.

And in Germany, feminist and queer groups organized a rally called “Take Back the Night” to protest against violence directed at women, among others.

In Lebanon, Communist Party members, trade syndicates, and migrant domestic workers marched through the streets of downtown Beirut.

North Korea marked the day with an editorial urging workers to support leader Kim Jong Un and fulfil their production quotas.