Czech unions have called for a massive demonstration against soaring energy and food prices while pushing for a sharp wage hike.

Europe is in for a tough winter as cuts in gas supplies from Russia have led to a sharp rise in commodity prices, which, in turn, leads to higher electricity prices and increase utility bills several times over. Food prices are also on the rise and inflation is at its highest level in three decades and is the fourth-highest in the European Union, Reuters reports.

The Czech government, like others, is struggling to help vulnerable households and firms, but is facing mounting pressure to act faster.

On Saturday, about 70,000 people took part in a protest in Prague.

Union groups announced their own demonstration on October 8, the first major action in a decade. Real wages in the Czech Republic fell 9.8% year-on-year in the second quarter, the fastest fall in decades as inflation cut wages sharply.

Anger is rising along with energy bills and households are starting to cut back on spending. The economy is likely to fall into recession in the second half of this year as demand declines.

Potentially high wage requirements are also on the radar of the central bank, which has raised interest rates by 675 basis points since June 2021 but left the base rate at 7.00%, the highest level since 1999.