It's May Day, so as expected, there have been protests aplenty throughout the streets all over the world. As is the annual tradition, protesters demonstrated demonstrate for workers' rights, CNN reported on Wednesday. Groups carrying May 1 International Workers' Day banners and chanting 'Longlive Workers' Day' as they were confronted with water cannons and teargas. Istanbul, Turkey, for instance, is on a citywide shut down, CNN reported.
High employment and cuts are some of the factors that this year's May Day is felt heavily.
Istanbul saw heavy street clashes, as police resorted water cannons and tear gas to hold back masses.
Greece, for instance has a debt to GDP level of 156% while government debt stands at a staggering 304 billion euros. The country -- one of four euro-zone countries to request a sovereign bailout is also grappling with unemployment of over 27%, the highest in the single currency area, according to Eurostat, the Commission's data service.
Also in Spain and Italy saw many demonstrators in the streets. In the Spanish capital Madrid and the country's second city, Barcelona, thousands of protesters marched with some displaying signs 'Bread and shelter at fair price!'
Some denounced Bankia, Spain's fourth-largest and partially state-owned bank that requested a 19 billion euro bailout in 2012. Other signs read: "Where is our money? Swindlers."
Spain has seen a spike in its unemployed since just before the economic crisis hit in 2008..
High unemployment and cuts to the public sector are being felt in Italy, as unemployment reached 11% in March, while the country remained in political deadlock since the elections in February failed to yield a government, CNN reported.
May Day protests have reportedly taken place in Rome as well as Bologna and Parma in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy.
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