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各國工人趁勞動節示威　要求改善待遇
Hundreds of thousands of people took part in May Day rallies in Russia yesterday, as labour unions and workers across Europe held events to protest against unemployment, poor working conditions and low wages.

In other countries activists used the day to complain about their governments or the international situation.

Official events staged by the ruling pro-United Russia party overshadowed (蓋過) traditional protest marches by the opposition Communists in Russia.

In the capital Moscow, 25,000 people gathered opposite the mayor's office in the central Tverskaya Street to hear speeches from trade union leaders and the mayor and listen to a concert, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported.

The Communists, meanwhile, marched from a square where there is a statue of Lenin (列寧像) to their usual rallying spot opposite the Bolshoi Theater by a statue to Karl Marx, NTV television reported. Overall, 1.5 million people participated in May Day rallies in Russia.

In Germany, labour unions protested against the impact of globalisation (全球化的影響) on Europe's largest economy, accusing firms of sacrificing jobs for quick profit and urging the government to introduce a minimum wage.

Years of slow economic growth and massive job cuts by German firms have pushed up unemployment in Germany, it now stands at 11.5 per cent, undermining government finances and the country's generous welfare state.

In Manila, Philippines, police blocked thousands of May Day protesters who defied a ban (挑戰禁令) and marched to the Philippine presidential palace to demand a wage hike and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's ouster.

After holding May Day rallies in nearby Manila parks, about 7,000 left-wing labourers and followers of ousted President Joseph Estrada marched down a narrow avenue towards the historic Mendiola bridge near the palace, carrying a huge red streamer that read: "Down with Gloria!"

In Jakarta, Indonesia, around 100,000 workers took to the streets across the country to demand better workers' benefits and urged the government not to change labour laws.

The May Day protesters hoped to pressure political leaders and businesses into providing health insurance, and paying higher wages and travel allowances to labourers, rally organiser Arief Poyuono said. (AP)