Beirut, May 2 : Thousands of protesters took to the streets across Lebanon against increasing unemployment in the country and also cabinet policies on the occasion of Labor Day. People on Friday protested near the labour and social affairs ministries and the central bank of Lebanon, reports Xinhua news agency. Protesters called upon the current government to recuperate stolen public funds and activate the different productive sectors in the country to provide citizens with job opportunities instead of adopting policies that encourage them to immigrate. Protesters held the Lebanese flag and signs on which they posted their demands that include the fight against corruption while calling upon people to stop supporting their political parties "who are responsible for economic and financial deterioration". Unemployment in Lebanon has increased to unprecedented levels after the nationwide protests started on October 17, 2019, but were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. These events led several companies to shut their doors down, laying off thousands of employees, with others paying only half salaries to their workers. Labour Minister Lamia Yammine announced on Friday that around 30 per cent of companies have closed in Lebanon and 20 per cent of labourers were paid half their regular salaries. /IANS