World

May Day marked across the world

Labour unions stage demonstrations across the world on May day

May 01, 2018

Activists along with workers break a mock chain during the May Day rally near Malacanang Palace PHOTO: AFP

People across the world marked May Day by staging demonstrations, organising protests and resisting police crackdowns.

The International Workers Day, known as May Day, is a public holiday tracing its history to the American Labour Federation, which came into effect on May 1, 1885.

In Turkey:

Turkish police officers arrest a protester attempting to defy a ban and march on Taksim Square to celebrate May Day on May 1, 2018 in Istanbul PHOTO: AFP

Turkish police officers arrest a protester attempting to defy a ban and march on Taksim Square. PHOTO: AFP

Turkish police officers arrest a protester attempting to defy a ban and march on Taksim Square to celebrate PHOTO: AFP

Turkish police officers arrest a protester attempting to defy a ban and march on Taksim Square. PHOTO: AFP

In Russia:

Russian Trade Unions' members holding balloons and flags parade on Red Square during their May Day demonstration in Moscow on May 1, 2018 PHOTO: AFP

Russian Trade Unions' members holding balloons and flags parade on Red Square during their May Day demonstration. PHOTO: AFP

Russian Trade Unions' members holding balloons and flags parade on Red Square during their May Day demonstration in Moscow. PHOTO: AFP

Russian Trade Unions' members holding balloons and flags parade on Red Square during their May Day demonstration. PHOTO: AFP

In South Korea:

South Korean activists gather around a statue to former slave workers outside Japan's consulate in Busan late on April 30, 2018. Dozens of South Korean activists clashed with police May 1 as they tried to install a statue to former slave workers in front of one of Tokyo's consulates. South Korea and Japan are both democracies, market economies and US allies that face North Korea's nuclear threats and China's growing economic might, but ties between them are marred by historical issues PHOTO: AFP

South Korean activists gather around a statue of former slave workers outside Japan's consulate in Busan. PHOTO: AFP

In China:

A couple takes a photo with a smartphone and selfie stick past a portrait of nationalist leader Sun Yat-sen in Tiananmen Square on the May Day holiday in Beijing. PHOTO: AFP

A couple takes a photo with a smartphone past a portrait of nationalist leader Sun Yat-sen in Tiananmen Square on May Day in Beijing. PHOTO: AFP

In India:

Indian activists from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), along with factory workers, shout slogans during a protest against alleged anti-workers policies imposed by the state and central governments on the occasion of International Labour Day, in Amritsar. PHOTO: AFP

Indian activists from the Communist Party of India (CPI-M), along with factory workers, shout slogans during a protest against alleged anti-worker policies imposed by the state and central governments. PHOTO: AFP

Women activists chant slogans. PHOTO: AFP

In Cambodia:

President of the Cambodian Labour Confederation, Ath Thun (L), speaks during a gathering to mark International Labour Day, or May Day, in Phnom Penh PHOTO: AFP

President of the Cambodian Labour Confederation, Ath Thun (L), speaks during a gathering to mark International Labour Day. PHOTO: AFP

In Taiwan:

PHOTO: Members of a local labour union display placards asking for higher wages during the annual May Day rally in Taipei on May 1, 2018.

PHOTO: Members of a local labour union display placards asking for higher wages during the annual May Day rally in Taipei on May 1, 2018.

Members of a local labour union display placards asking for higher wages during the annual May Day rally in Taipei. PHOTO: AFP

In Indonesia:

Members of an Indonesian counterculture movement vandalise a booth as they take part in a protest to mark May Day in Bandung. PHOTO: AFP

. Indonesian workers take part in a May Day rally in Jakarta. PHOTO: AFP

Indonesian workers take part in a May Day rally in Jakarta. PHOTO: AFP

In the Philippines:

Activists pull a carriage loaded with a giant effigy of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte as they march towards Malacanang palace during the May Day rally in ManilaPHOTO: AFP