May Day marches around the world — in pictures

Police arrest May Day demonstrators in Istanbul. Security forces prevented leftist groups trying to reach Taksim Square. Lefteris Pitarakis / AP Photo

Members of the Greek communist labour union (PAME) demonstrate in central Athens. Aris Messinis / AFP Photo

Russian marchers carry a banner reads as ‘For decent work, salary, life!’ in front of St Basil’s Cathedral and Spaskaya Tower during a rally at Red Square in Moscow. Sergei Ilnitsky / EPA

Taiwanese workers hold placards with the words “Against Exploitation” and “Demand Protection for Elderly Lives” during a rally in Taipei. Chiang Ying-ying / AP Photo

Cambodian workers attend a rally in Phnom Penh. Mak Remissa / EPA

North Korean workers, with their legs tied together, take part in a May Day competition at the Pyongyang Thermal Power Complex. Jon Chol Jin / AP Photo

Plainclothes police officers detain a protester in Istanbul. Murad Sezer / Reuters

Filipinos from various workers’ groups hold a banner which reads “implementation of national industrialisation and real land reform” during a march in Manila. Romeo Ranoco / Reuters

Indonesian workers rally in Jakarta. Beawiharta / Reuters

Rob Gurdebeke

Workers and activists marked May Day with defiant rallies and marches for better pay and working conditions on Monday. Some countries celebrate International Workers’ Day with a public holiday though others restrict activities, which can lead to confrontations.

Updated: May 01, 2017, 12:00 AM