Saturday saw Spain hold its first May Labour Day parade since the start of the pandemic more than a year ago.

Madrid's infection rate is the second highest in the country, so this year's protest was officially limited to 1,000 people, although the true number attending looked higher.

READ MORE 

WHO decision on Sinopharm and Sinovac 'next week'

Reporting on Northern Ireland's peace process

Tianhe launch 'can lead to galactic cooperation'

The May Labour Day parade is one of the most important for Spain's trade unions, even more so this year with jobs under threat as never before thanks to the financial fallout from COVID-19. 

However, speaking to CGTN Europe, some of the protesters questioned if the marches had any impact.

"I don't know if this is important because sometimes we feel like they don't listen to us. It should be effective to protest, but normally they don't listen. So sadly it seems pretty ineffective," said one man.

Another told CGTN Europe that many companies were using the pandemic as a convenient justification for job losses: "No doubt COVID-19 was a key turning point for them, as they could take advantage of the situation to rearrange jobs using the pandemic as an excuse.

"Look at the banking sector, the massive digital transformation also affected workers hugely."

In France, thousands took to the streets for May Day rallies. Police and anti-government protesters clashed in Lyon. 

Leaders from both sides of the political divide were present. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen used the opportunity to criticize the government's handling of the COVID-19 crisis. 

"It's a tragic toll, and it's a toll that should make the French people think because it's obvious that if Emmanuel Macron... was to win a second term, the chaos would be absolutely widespread," she said. 

In Turkey, police clashed with union leaders and demonstrators with more than 200 people detained in Istanbul, with authorities being instructed to try and prevent any media coverage of the event.

In Germany, on the eve of May Day, several thousand demonstrators in Berlin took to the streets to voice their concerns over the lifting of rent caps in their city. 

Germany's constitutional court overturned a decision from the Berlin senate to freeze rents on 90 percent of apartments at 2019 rates. 

Many now feel renting in the capital will become unaffordable if prices aren't uncontrolled. 

And in London, there was a large gathering in Trafalgar Square to demonstrate against a new government bill, which critics argue will limit their right to protest.