A coalition of Hong Kong employers petitions the government to freeze foreign domestic workers' pay, citing potential mass layoffs if wages increase, and proposes a pay-for-performance system.
About 160 Arnott's Marleston factory workers in Adelaide, Australia, undertook a 24-hour strike over wage increases of less than $1/hour, insufficient to keep pace with the cost of living, despite the company's 9.5% offer over two years.
Metro Manila's minimum wage earners will see the largest single wage increase ever approved, rising from 695 to 755 pesos this month, then to 780 pesos by January. While the government hails it as 'historic,' labor groups deem it an 'insult,' arguing it fails to cover the soaring cost of living.
Hospitality and food service workers in Los Angeles, Seattle and Philadelphia, represented by Unite Here, are warning of potential strikes during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Unions are seeking wage increases above $30 per hour, protections from immigration enforcement, improved health coverage and better staffing as contracts expire or near expiration.
Australia's Fair Work Commission has announced a 4.75% pay rise for nearly 3 million workers on award wages, with the lowest-paid receiving a 6% increase. The minimum wage will rise to $26.44 per hour from July 1, a decision influenced by surging fuel prices and inflation.
France's minimum wage (Smic) will increase by 2.41% on June 1st, following inflation driven by the Middle East conflict. The hourly gross wage rises to €12.31, and the monthly gross to €1,867.02. While the government hails it as a boost to purchasing power, unions like CGT deem it insufficient to address the social crisis.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced a 15% increase in minimum daily wages for workers in both government and private sectors, the first revision since 2013. The announcement was made during a special one-day session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Labour Day (May 1). The move aims to ease cost-of-living pressures for daily wage earners. The session was marked by political controversy as opposition Congress MLAs alleged the CM appeared intoxicated and demanded a breath analyser test, which Mann dismissed as baseless.
France sees 320 May Day rallies across the country as unions CFDT and CGT demand wage increases amid returning inflation. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu visits Haute-Loire to meet bakers and artisans amid debate about allowing certain shops to open on the holiday. International demonstrations occur in Turkey (dozens arrested in Istanbul), Indonesia, and South Korea.
