International Workers' Day, observed on May 1, will be marked Wednesday throughout Croatia without union prostests.

Organised celebrations will include the traditional bean stew, carnations and cultural programmes.

Instead of protesting, three union federations will be collecting signatures for a referendum against raising the statutory retirement age to 67.

The date May 1 was chosen for International Workers’ Day to commemorate the Haymarket affair, which occurred in Chicago on 4 May 1886. The police were trying to disperse a public assembly during a general strike for the eight-hour workday, when an unidentified person threw a bomb at the police. The police responded by firing on the workers, killing four protesters.

Croatia marked International Workers’ Time for the first time in 1890.

In Zagreb, numerous residents gathered in Maksimir Park for the traditional celebration of International Workers’ Day, where representatives of political parties gave them carnations.

The city organised the event, including 60,000 free meals and music.