The International Workers’ Day was marked on May 1 by the Autonomous Trade Unions of Croatia and the Association of Croatian Trade Unions with a joint protest in Zagreb, under the slogan “For the reforms for the people.”

The protesters demanded fair wages and better working conditions, as well as quality education, efficient public healthcare and judiciary, and the return of the people’s trust in the institutions.

The protest march began in front of the unions’ head offices on the Zagreb’s King Petar Kresimir square, and the ended in the Maksimir park, where the day is traditionally celebrated.

May 1 was chosen for the International Workers’ Day to commemorate the Haymarket affair, which happened in Chicago on May 4, 1886. A peaceful protest was organised in support of the workers’ strike for an eight-hour day, and in reaction to the police killing several workers the day before. An unidentified person threw a bomb at the police, who responded by firing on the protesters, resulting in four civilian causalties.

Croatia marked the day for the first time in 1890.

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