Tens of thousands of people on Saturday took part in May Day protests in Paris and other large French cities against the policies of President Nicholas Sarkozy, DPA reported.
Unions had called for demonstrations and protest marches across the country, planning around 280 events.
Demonstrators this year directed their protests against the planned reforms of the pension system. Many French fear that the current retirement age of 60 may be significantly increased.
According to a survey by leftist daily L'Humanite, 70 per cent of the population sympathise with the protesters.
The unions also believe that Sarkozy's government is not doing enough to keep jobs and increase consumption.