Strikers take part in a demonstration in Athens, Greece, on April 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

Greece was hit by a 24-hour strike on Wednesday, called by trade unions to protest against inadequate salary increases amid the high cost of living.

Thousands of strikers marched through the center of Athens, as public services -- including transport, hospitals, and schools -- were paralyzed.

"We want decent wages, not breadcrumbs," read banners raised by protesters in front of the Greek Parliament.

The Greek economy has returned to growth after exiting a severe debt crisis that brought the country to the brink of bankruptcy (2009-2018), and the government has increased wages and pensions in recent years.

However, unions and protesters said that households and small businesses are still struggling to make ends meet. They called for more generous increases, as well as measures to ease inflationary pressures and the housing crisis, amid concern that the ongoing tariffs war will exacerbate challenges for many ordinary people across the globe.

"No sacrifices for the elite's wealth, no sacrifices for the war economy and tariffs," said Dimitris Koutsoumbas, general secretary of the Greek Communist Party (KKE), during the protest, which ended peacefully, with only minor scuffles between small groups of demonstrators and police forces.

"We demand adequate salaries for a life with dignity for employees in both the public and private sectors," Nikos Bosinakos, a civil servant, told Xinhua.