[ti:World's Workers Rally for Higher Pay, Time Off, Safety on May Day]
[al:As It Is]
[ar:VOA]
[dt:2023-05-02]
[by:www.voase.cn]
[00:00.00]The first day of May, known as May Day, is considered a day to celebrate workers around the world.
[00:10.50]On Monday, however, workers around the world took to the streets to express their unhappiness about the money they make, their time off, the high cost of living and the age of retirement.
[00:29.01]In the former Soviet Union, May Day was a time to celebrate communism. 
[00:34.66]But on Monday in Russia, celebrations were overshadowed by the country's war with Ukraine.
[00:44.08]In France, workers want the government to reconsider a decision to increase the retirement age by two years, to 64.
[00:56.07]Police said they were concerned about protests getting larger if other groups joined in.
[01:04.13]Some groups there are protesting climate change. 
[01:08.87]Others are concerned about how the 2024 Summer Olympics will affect life in Paris.
[01:17.82]In Spain, labor union members said their pay has not gone up to match inflation and the higher cost of living.
[01:28.14]In the Spanish capital of Madrid, a group of lawyers said old-fashioned rules that require them to be on duty every day of the year must be changed. 
[01:42.42]Lawyers have used social media to show themselves working from the hospital or on days that family members died.
[01:51.97]Police in Turkey prevented protesters from reaching Istanbul's main square, Taksim. 
[02:00.31]More than 10 protesters were arrested. 
[02:03.43]Taksim Square is where many people died after a stampede broke out during a May Day event in 1977.
[02:14.60]In South Korea, thousands of people attended the largest May Day protests since 2020.
[02:23.42]One protester shouted, "The price of everything has increased except for our wages. Increase our minimum wages!"
[02:33.30]In Japan, workers, lawmakers and academics gathered in Tokyo's Yoyogi Park to demand higher pay.
[02:43.79]They criticized Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's plan to put more money into Japan's defense budget.
[02:52.68]The leader has said he plans to look at raising pay for workers.
[02:58.85]Indonesian workers marched against a new law called the Job Creation Law, which they say will only help business owners.
[03:09.87]Thousands of workers in Taiwan protested labor policies ahead of the 2024 presidential election there. 
[03:19.41]They said they did not like President Tsai Ing-wen's labor decisions.
[03:25.33]In Pakistan, government restrictions on gatherings prevented large public rallies. 
[03:33.36]However, smaller groups gathered indoors to demand more support for workers and higher wages.
[03:42.30]Workers in Beirut, Lebanon marched through the streets. 
[03:47.39]They included members of unions and migrant domestic workers.
[03:54.23]The country is in the middle of an economic crisis. 
[03:58.91]About 75 percent of people in Lebanon are living in poverty because of high inflation.
[04:07.37]I'm Ashley Thompson.