Marches are taking place throughout Spain as many thousands protest against the government's recently approved labour reforms.

The country's main trade unions have organised marches in 57 cities, beginning in Cordoba in the south and ending with evening marches in Barcelona, Seville, Toledo and Valencia, with a very large demonstration in Madrid from midday.

The newly introduced measures enable Spanish companies facing dwindling incomes to pull out of collective bargaining agreements and have greater flexibility to adjust employees' schedules, workplace tasks and wages, as well as making it easier and less costly to fire workers.

The government is seeking to revive the country's ailing economy and solve a jobless rate of nearly 23%, the Eurozone's highest.