FOTOGRAFIAS: Workers rally on May Day around the world – in pictures

Leftwing groups and trade unions are staging rallies to mark International Workers’ Day, also known as Labour Day or May Day. The day commemorates workers’ struggle for better conditions in industrialised countries in the 19th century 

Istanbul, Turkey Police fire water cannon at protesters during May Day clashes. Violence erupted between police and demonstrators after crowds, determined to defy a government ban, tried to march to the iconic Taksim Square Photograph: Emrah Gurel/AP

Istanbul, Turkey An elderly man tries to rise to his feet as riot police use a water cannon to disperse protesters Photograph: Bulent Kilic/AFP/Getty Images

Istanbul, Turkey A demonstrator throws a gas canister back at police during clashes in the Beşiktaş neighbourhood Photograph: Murad Sezer/Reuters

Paris, France Topless Femen activists perform the Nazi salute above flags reading ‘Heil Le Pen’, as they demonstrate against a rally by the far-right Front National in honour Joan of Arc Photograph: Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty Images

Paris, France Femen activists demonstrate on a balcony during a Front National rally Photograph: Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images

Paris, France Femen activists with ‘Le Pen Top Fascist’ painted on their bodies protest as France’s far-right National Front president, Marine Le Pen, lays a wreath at a statue of Joan of Arc during the party’s annual May Day march Photograph: Francois Mori/AP

Moscow, Russia People walk with flags and artificial flowers in Red Square during a rally Photograph: Maxim Zmeyev/Reuters

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia People march towards the Petronas Towers during a May Day protest against a tax on goods and services Photograph: Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty Images

Dhaka, Bangladesh Garment workers and other labour organisations shout slogans Photograph: Zakir Hossain Chowdhury/Zuma Press/Corbis

Tokyo, Japan Anti-nuclear protesters wear protective suits during a Labour Day rally Photograph: Franck Robichon/EPA

Batam, Indonesia Workers demand an increase in welfare, health and employment contracts Photograph: Yuli Seperi/ZUMA Press/Corbis

Phnom Penh, Cambodia Ath Thorn, president of the Cambodian Labour Confederation, joins workers outside the National Assembly calling for the government to renegotiate the $177 monthly minimum wage Photograph: Mak Remissa/EPA

Rangoon, Burma Workers gather with banners for a rally to protest against wages they claim are as low as $5 a day Photograph: Ye Aung Thu/AFP/Getty Images

Manila, Philippines Demonstrators demand better labour programmes and higher salaries for low-income workers Photograph: Ritchie B. Tongo/EPA

Istanbul, Turkey Police detain a protester. All roads to Taksim Square have been blocked in an attempt to prevent protests Photograph: Ulas Yunus Tosun/EPA

aipei, Taiwan Demonstrators throw smoke grenades during a protest outside the presidential office Photograph: Patrick Lin/Reuters

The Guardian