Yesterday, isolated residents of the world celebrated the Day of the workers in an unprecedented manner, without major demonstrations and no expected gatherings, due to the outbreak of the new Corona epidemic, which killed about 235 thousand people in the world and burdened the global economy, as demonstrators around the world were forced to reduce the size of their gatherings, yesterday , Due to the closures imposed to curb the spread of the virus, while some transferred the occasion to balconies and Internet platforms, while others insisted on taking to the streets wearing masks.
Arrests have taken place in the Philippines, Turkey and France, where dozens have violated isolation measures to organize vigils. However, most of the gatherings organized on this year's unconventional labor day passed without incident.
Millions usually participate in the traditional annual event of the labor movement, which witnesses noisy marches in the streets, sometimes interspersed with confrontations with the security forces.
But at a time when most countries imposed strict rules for social estrangement to curb the outbreak of the new Corona virus, labor leaders preferred to postpone the rallies or move them to the Internet.
Perhaps the first of May carries more importance this year after the spread of the «Covid-19» into the global economy in a state of historical chaos, and caused the unprecedented layoffs of workers from their jobs while transferring some workers whose wages are among the lowest, such as nurses, garbage collectors and workers in stores Selling food and delivering orders to homes, to heroes.
In France, the police arrested 10 people, after trying to demonstrate on the occasion of International Workers Day, and violated the decision to ban gatherings and demonstrations in the country against the backdrop of the closures and quarantine measures imposed until the 11th of this month, to stop the "Corona" outbreak.
Yesterday morning, some demonstrators arrived with banners and pictures on the "Republic" square in the center of the French capital in order to implement a demonstration demanding to open the country and end the closure, but the police prevented them from continuing the protest and arrested most of them.
The manifestations of the traditional celebrations accompanying the commemoration of International Labor Day this year have disappeared in France.
Instead of going out to the street, many workers and unions demonstrated on the veranda of homes and homes, and on social networks, while the French trade unions issued statements in which they recalled the main workers' role in the war on Corona.
In Turkey, about 20 demonstrators, including a union leader, were arrested for participating in a small march organized by workers who wore protective masks in Istanbul in violation of the procedures for the closure.
Hundreds of Greek workers also participated in a march outside the parliament, held under the banner of the "BMEE" syndicate linked to the Communists, while a small band played the traditional Italian song "Bella Chao".
Red stickers were placed on the floor to ensure commitment to leaving a safe distance, as many wore red scarves on their faces or masks bearing expressions of solidarity with health workers.
Some of them wrote, "The mouths still have voices."
In the Philippines, police said they arrested at least three people at a time when small groups of protesters knocked empty pots, and raised banners calling on the government to provide aid and provide safe working conditions, in defiance of a ban on gatherings.
Jerome Adonis, of the May 1 Movement movement, said that about 23 million people (about a quarter of the country's population) are vulnerable to hunger.
In turn, the Indonesian trade unions called for a demonstration online against a draft law supporting businesses aimed at facilitating layoffs, following the cancellation of street rallies.
The Federation of Indonesian Trade Unions has organized donation campaigns to buy protective masks for factory workers and food for people who have been laid off from their jobs as a result of the economic crisis caused by the outbreak of the recent corona.
In Finland, Labor Day rallies are usually preceded by massive group excursions at the largest gathering of people the country experiences every year.
However, only a handful of participants came to the vicinity of the Manta statue in the market square, which is usually the center of the gathering. This time, the square was subject to strict security measures as the police deployed to enforce the ban on the gathering of more than 10 people.
But the authorities encouraged the Finns to take the event to the Internet.
In Hong Kong, police deployed with rubber bullets and tear gas, after democratic activists threatened to defy the ban on gathering and holding demonstrations, but the streets seemed mostly empty.
Yesterday, workers from various parts of Taiwan demanded better working conditions and greater economic security under Corona, as some of them gathered in a limited demonstration in the capital, Taipei.
About 100 trade union representatives participated in an open-air meeting, via a live online broadcast, to unite workers across the island.
This solidarity action was supported by 600 trade unions.
The manifestations of traditional celebrations for International Workers Day disappeared this year in France.