Recognised in dozens of countries around the world, Labor Day has been integrated for decades as an omnipresent part of the annual calendar.
Workers’ Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, is often seen as having European characters, but this opportunity traces its roots to two other continents.
On April 21, 1856, the Stonemazons in Melbourne, Australia protested what they considered unacceptable working conditions. The workers ultimately won, reaching agreements with their employers, leading to the establishment of an eight-hour working day.
This success served as a driving force for further action and mobilization, particularly for workers in the United States.
Labor Day also has a foundation in North America. In May 1886, violent crackdowns against Chicago protesters — known as the Haymarket Incident — saw numerous deaths and injuries after a peaceful rally supporting eight hours of workers.
This required that Paris’ Second International be kept in memory four years later.
By the end of the 19th century, many European countries were inspired and Mayday had become a global phenomenon.
In Europe, events range in size and shape, from national celebrations to small issues.
France
Unions across the country are calling for protests “for peace, freedom and social justice.” Last year, 121,000 people were demonstrated and 12,000 police officers were deployed across the country.
Police and authorities have described this May 1 as a nervous day. In an interview with broadcaster Europe1, Home Minister Bruno Letterou said the agency would “intervene in small signs of violence.”
15,000 people are scheduled to march in Paris.
Germany
Labor Day has been viewed as the day of struggle for the workers’ movement in Germany since 1890, when workers continued to strike to demand more political remarks and improved working conditions.
Trade unions and other organisations have held national rallies at Berlin police, with more than 5,000 people saying one of the 36 scheduled for the capital in front of city halls is taking part in the demonstrations.
Thousands are expected to march in cities across the country to demand higher wages and better social security.
Italy
There are also marching in various cities around Italy, mainly organized by the country’s three major trade unions.
In a post marking Labor Day to X, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised the Conservative government’s track record on job creation and workers’ rights.
“Work is one of the pillars that this government is based on its actions: in two and a half years, more than one million jobs have been created and the total number of people employed has reached an all-time high.
But ahead of the rally in Rome, Democrat Secretary Ellie Schlein, Centre left Democratic Party, criticized the government.
“We need a minimum wage law. The majority wanted to block it. Meloni has turned her back on the 3.5 million poor people. She continues to lie through her teeth about numbers. She says she has no wage issues in Italy, and instead, wages are 8% lower than in 2021.
Spain
Spanish workers have also taken them on the streets to demand better wages and shorter working hours, and unions have called rallies in more than 50 cities.
The union has two main requirements. The first is a labor week reduction from 40 hours to 37.5 without a salary reduction.
“This will be the last day of May where we have up to 40 hours of working hours in our country, so we will not be back,” said Labor Minister Yolanda Diaz.
The second demand is reforms to the layoff process. The union says employers will resort to easily fire staff rather than addressing the issue, seeking a process consistent with the European Social Charter.
turkey
In Türkiye, Mayday served as a platform for not only labour rights but also for broader appeals to maintain democratic values.
His imprisonment in March sparked the country’s biggest protest for more than a decade, with Thursday’s public holiday offering an updated anti-government exhibition prospect.
Authorities blocked access to Central Istanbul and closed transport lines.
The Law Society said more than 200 protesters had been arrested by noon near Taksim Square. Taksim Square is an iconic gathering point that has long been closed to May Day gatherings, including lawyers seeking to comply with detention.
Focus on Asian Trump
And from Tokyo to Taipei to Manila, Asians marked Labor Day with marches and protests that flaunted President Donald Trump’s policies and growing anxiety over fears over global economic instability.
In Japan, Trump’s policies hang in the shadows during the day, with one truck on the Tokyo March featuring Trump-like dolls, some said. Participants’ demands ranged from higher wages and gender equality to health care, disaster relief, a ceasefire in Gaza and the end of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“The rights of workers must be recognized so that our children can live with hope,” said Kurokojima, a member of the Tokyo Mothers Group.
Under the cloudy skies in Taipei, around 2,500 Taiwanese members marched from the president’s office, representing the sector from fisheries to telecommunications. Protesters warned that Trump’s tariffs could cost jobs.
“This is why we hope that the government can propose a plan to protect workers’ rights,” union leader Carlos Wang said. Autoworkers’ Union carried a cutout car topped with a photo of a playing card.
President Rai Qingte said on Facebook that his government has introduced a new Taiwan dollar (11.3 billion euros) bill to support industry and stabilize the job market.
In Manila, thousands of Filipino workers marched near the Presidential Palace, where police blocked access to barricades. Protesters called for higher wages and stronger protections for local employment and businesses.
In Indonesia, President Prabobo Suboant greeted thousands of workers who cheered him on at Jakarta’s National Monument Park.
“The government I lead will work as hard as possible to eliminate poverty from Indonesia,” Subiant told the crowd.
About 200,000 Indonesian workers were expected to take part in the May march of Southeast Asia’s largest economy, according to Iqbal, president of the Indonesian Union Federation.
They are demanding outsourcing for foreign and migrant workers, wage increases and protections end, Iqbal said.
