Thousands protest for shorter workday on International Workers' Day

Thousands took to the streets across Catalonia on Wednesday, May 1, for International Workers' Day protests calling for a shorter workday. 

The main protest took place throughout the morning in Barcelona, with police reporting an estimated 5,000 participants, while organizers put the number at 10,000.

This year's protest focused on the demand for a shorter working day. They want to reduce the work week to 37.5 hours, with a gradual reduction to even fewer hours.

The demonstration, organized by the leading trade unions CCOO and UGT, marched under the slogan: "For full employment, shorter working hours and better wages."

The protest comes at a time when Spain has a record number of people registered with social security. However, unemployment remains well above the European average.  

Unions also denounced the loss of purchasing power due to inflation and demanded better wages. 

In the midst of the campaign for the Catalan elections on May 12, the candidates of several political parties were present at the protest. 

Catalan president and Esquerra candidate Pere Aragonès, the Socialists candidate Salvador Illa and Comuns candidate Jéssica Albiach attended, as well as Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni.

This year's protest also put the spotlight on the housing crisis, especially in Barcelona, where it has hit particularly hard.

In addition to domestic issues, international conflicts have also been at the forefront of the protests, especially those happening in Palestine and Ukraine.

Organizers have called for an end to the "war politics" that have become consolidated in the international community.

There were other protests in different county capitals of Catalonia: Lleida, Girona, and Tarragona, where about 500 people gathered in each city.