May Day 2022: Global Rallies Advocate Workers’ Rights, Salaries and Reduced Working Hours

May Day was observed globally with a strong turnout of workers and activists demanding better working conditions, reduced work hours, and higher salaries. This year’s events drew bigger crowds than in previous years due to the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, with the opposition focused on how economic plans proposed by governments would impact workers. In France, unions held massive demonstrations to protest against President Emmanuel Macron’s recent move to increase the retirement age. In South Korea, tens of thousands of people attended rallies marking the biggest May Day gatherings since the pandemic began. Workers accused President Yoon Suk Yeol’s conservative government of clamping down on labor unions under the guise of reforming their alleged irregularities. In Japan, thousands of union members, academics, and opposition lawmakers rallied for wage hikes to offset the impact of rising costs. Protests in Germany kicked off with a “Take Back the Night” rally by feminist and queer groups to protest against violence against women and LGBTI people, while in Indonesia, rally-goers demanded the repeal of a job creation law that they believe presents a threat to workers and the environment. Finally, North Korea’s main newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, urged workers to increase their support for leader Kim Jong Un and focus on fulfilling their production quotas and improving public livelihoods.