(VOVWORLD) - Thousands of Cubans on Tuesday marched in a ceremony co-chaired by Party leader Raul Castro and President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Revolution Square, in Havana, to celebrate International Workers’ Day (May 1). The event was organized by the Cuban Worker’s Federation (CTC).
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro chaired a grand meeting in Caracas, calling on citizens to continue the Bolivar Revolution initiated by late President Hugo Chavez. Mr. Maduro reaffirmed commitments to reclaim workers’ basic rights, pursue social projects serving the majority, and fight hostile forces’ schemes against Venezuela’s revolution. Thousands of Argentineans people gathered in Bueno Aires to protest price increases for public services. A major protest was held in Brazil to support detained labor leader and former president Lula da Silva.
Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hunsen attended a lunch and promised 12.5 USD each to thousands of workers in the Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone.
 An Indonesian protest in Jakarta on May 1, 2018 (Photo: AFP/VNA) |
5,000 people marched in the Philippines’ capital demanding that the government address labor issues, including low salaries and high unemployment. 10,000 Jakarta workers gathered at the Indonesian Presidential Palace to demand salary raises and the firing of foreign workers. South Korean workers marched in Seoul to call on the government to cancel plans to restructure Korea’s shipbuilding and car industry.
Tens of thousands of workers marched in Germany to call for protection of workers’ right in the face of globalization. The German Labor Union Alliance said 340,000 people participated in 500 events to celebrate this year’s May Day.
Rallies calling for gender equality and salary and pension increases took place in 70 cities in Spain. Some 12,000 people gathered at Vienna’s city hall to protest a government plan to cut social welfare.