In Russia, 10,000 people took part in May Day demonstrations against the rising cost of living and demanded wage increases Thursday, dpa reported.
In the western Siberian city of Chelyabinsk, union leaders criticized the fact that wages were rising too slowly despite strong economic growth.
According to police, some 7,000 people took part in a rally in the Revolution Square in Chelyabinsk, where speakers at the rally stressed that, despite economic growth, the incomes of a major part of the population were growing too slowly.
Prices of essentials, tariffs, the value of services in the housing and communal economy, as well as transport fees, continue to grow, leading to a the growth in social tension, they said.
According to the Itar Tass news agency, participants in the rally adopted a resolution, demanding that the Russian and regional leaders take measures for curbing the growth of prices, establish state regulation of prices of socially important foodstuffs and other products.
This would means that the growth rate of wages would exceed the growth rate of prices by no less than 50 per cent
In Moscow, amidst strict security, 30,000 people took part in various protests around the city.
Communist party leader Gennady Zjuganov, addressing a crowd of around 4,000 demanded an increase in the minimum pension.
"One third of Russians have to survive on 5,000 roubles (209 dollars) a month. Everybody needs at least 15,000 roubles," he said, emphasizing that teachers, doctors and young scientists in particular needed to be better paid.
Many Muscovites complained about the strong police presence and the the use of metal detectors and barricades in the city centre.
According to official reports, a 320,000-strong force of army and police were on duty throughout the country.
In Russia, May 1 no longer has the significance it had in Soviet times. Then, it was celebrated as a day of solidarity between workers and the Communist Party ensured that millions marched under the red flag in cities all over the country.
It has been renamed as the Day of Spring and Work. However, trade unions still mark the day with labour protests.