In various metropolises across Asia and Europe, individuals such as laborers, activists, and others took to the streets on Wednesday to commemorate May Day. Their demonstrations were fueled by concerns regarding escalating costs, governmental labor regulations, and appeals for enhanced labor rights.
May Day, traditionally observed on May 1st, serves as a platform in numerous nations to honor the rights of workers. Moreover, it serves as an avenue for voicing broader economic grievances and political aspirations.
In Istanbul, law enforcement apprehended numerous individuals attempting to access Taksim Square, defying a government prohibition on commemorating Labor Day at this iconic location. Taksim Square has long been designated off-limits for rallies and protests by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s administration citing security reasons. Nevertheless, certain political factions and labor unions remain resolute in their determination to march to this square, laden with symbolic significance for labor associations.
The year 1977 witnessed an appalling incident at Taksim when unidentified assailants opened fire during a May Day celebration, resulting in a stampede and the tragic loss of 34 lives.
On Wednesday, authorities fortified the area with barricades and cordoned off all routes leading to the central square in Istanbul. Additionally, public transportation in the vicinity was curtailed. Only a select group of trade union representatives were granted access to the square to lay a wreath at a monument commemorating the victims of the 1977 tragedy.
Riot police intervened when approximately 30 members of the left-wing People’s Liberation Party attempted to breach the barriers.
In Indonesia, laborers voiced their discontentment with a recent legislation they perceive as encroaching upon their rights and livelihoods. Their demands encompassed safeguarding the interests of overseas migrant workers and advocating for an increase in the minimum wage.
An estimated 50,000 workers from satellite cities around Jakarta, including Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi, were anticipated to participate in May Day marches in the capital. Demonstrators converged amidst heightened police presence near the National Monument park, brandishing the vibrant flags of labor factions and chanting slogans denouncing the Job Creation Law and relaxed regulations on outsourcing during their procession to Jakarta’s primary sports arena, Gelora Bung Karno.
Expressing apprehensions about the ramifications of the enacted legislation, protester Isbandi Anggono remarked, “With the implementation of this law, our prospects appear uncertain, as numerous issues pertaining to wages, severance pay, and contractual arrangements have emerged.”
Although Indonesia’s parliament ratified a government regulation last year in lieu of a contentious law on job creation, critics argue that it still disproportionately favors businesses. The legislation aimed to streamline bureaucracy as part of President Joko Widodo’s endeavors to attract greater investment to the nation, which boasts the largest economy in Southeast Asia.
In Seoul, the capital of South Korea, throngs of protesters congregated on Wednesday, rallying against what they perceive as anti-labor policies under the conservative administration led by President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Addressing the crowd, Yang Kyung-soo, leader of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, lamented, “Over the past two years, the plight of our labor force has deteriorated under the governance of Yoon Suk Yeol. We cannot turn a blind eye to his administration’s actions. We must depose them from power for our own welfare.”
Members of the KCTU condemned President Yoon’s veto in December of a bill aimed at curbing companies’ ability to seek compensation for damages resulting from labor strikes. They also accused the government of responding excessively to the 2022 strikes by truck drivers and of disparaging construction workers suspected of engaging in purportedly irregular activities.
Since assuming office in 2022, President Yoon has advocated for labor reforms to stimulate economic growth and job creation. His administration has pledged to take a hardline stance against unlawful strikes and demand greater transparency in financial disclosures from labor unions.
Expressing gratitude for the contributions of the nation’s workforce, President Yoon conveyed his appreciation in a May Day message posted on Facebook, stating, “The remarkable progress of the Republic of Korea is indebted to the toil and dedication of our laborers. I extend my heartfelt thanks to our 28.4 million workers. My government and I are committed to safeguarding the invaluable dignity of labor.”
Subsequently, participants in the Seoul rally proceeded to march through downtown thoroughfares. Similar May Day demonstrations transpired at over 10 locations throughout South Korea on Wednesday. Police authorities reported deploying thousands of officers to maintain order, although no incidents of violence were immediately reported.
In Japan, upwards of 10,000 individuals congregated at Yoyogi Park in central Tokyo for a May Day gathering, advocating for wage increments sufficient to offset rising prices. Addressing the assembly, Masako Obata, head of the left-leaning National Confederation of Trade Unions, highlighted the plight of Japanese workers grappling with dwindling wages and widening income disparities.
In the Philippine capital of Manila, hundreds of laborers and left-wing activists braved scorching temperatures to demand salary hikes and employment security amid soaring food and fuel prices.
Riot police intercepted the demonstrators’ approach towards the presidential palace. Undeterred, the protesters rallied in the streets, brandishing red flags and placards bearing slogans such as “We work to live, not to die” and “Lower prices, higher wages,” while delivering impassioned speeches detailing the challenges confronting Filipino laborers.
Furthermore, drivers of dilapidated jeepneys, a primary mode of public transportation in Manila, joined the protest, voicing opposition to a government modernization initiative feared to result in the phasing out of their vehicles from the city’s streets.