International Worker’s Day is celebrated on 1st May or the first day of May. It is also referred to as May Day or Labour Day in some countries. This is an annual observation. May Day or Labour Day is a national holiday in most of the countries. It is a public holiday in India as well, where it is celebrated as Antarrashtriya Shramik Diwas (International Labour Day).
Labour Day celebrates the contribution and sacrifice of workers to and for the society. The day’s importance dates back to the times when workers in the United States started protesting against draconian labour laws, workers’ rights violations, poor working conditions, and dreadful work hours. Speeches given by workers’ union leaders and cultural events are common on this day.
International Worker’s Day
International worker’s Day is observed internationally to celebrate the achievements of the working class. This day honours and celebrates the accomplishments and contributions of labourers and workers. This day is dedicated to the working class and encourages them to be conscious of their rights.
The major goal is to acknowledge the immense hard work put in by the working class, to educate them about their rights, and to protect them from being exploited. Workers must be aware of the opportunities available to them for their welfare and progress.
History & Significance
May Day traces its origin to the labour union movement in the United States in the 19th century. The Marxist International Socialist Congress adopted a resolution in 1889 stating that employees should not be forced to work for more than eight hours a day. Following that, it became an annual event.
It was declared for the workers in Paris and France to dedicate May 1, every year, as the ‘Workers Day of International Unity and Solidarity’.
In 1884, the American Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions called for an eight-hour workday. This led to a general strike and the Haymarket (Chicago) Riot, which finally led to the implementation of the eight-hour workday regulation in many countries throughout the world.
In India, the first May Day was celebrated on May 1, 1923, in then Madras (now Chennai). It was organised by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan.
Celebration
Labour Day is celebrated to acknowledge the workers’ struggles and subsequent empowerment in the late 19th century. International worker’s Day or May Day also popular as Labour Day is observed to commemorate the struggles and sacrifices of the workers’ and labours’ movement. May Day is celebrated in most countries, including India, Cuba and China.
The origin of Labour Day can be traced back to the United States of America in the 19th Century. May 1 in particular was chosen as the date to mark Labour Day to commemorate the nationwide strike for an eight-hour day in 1886 that began on May 1 and ended as the Haymarket affair in Chicago US.
Labor Day is often a day for parades, demonstrations, and sometimes riots in major cities around the world. Paroles can include women’s rights, immigrant working conditions, and the erosion of workers’ conditions. The demonstrations usually happen on May 1 and are often referred to as May Day Protests. Many countries celebrate Labour Day on another date.
Themes
Each year this Day is celebrated with a specific theme that reflects the current issues and challenges facing workers around the world. Here are some of the recent themes:
- 2022 – “Universal Social Protection to End Child Labor”
- 2021 – “International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD)”
- 2020 – “Maintaining Safety and Security at the Workplace”
- 2019 – “Uniting Workers for Social and Economic Advancement.”
- 2017 – “Preserve Our National Heritage.”
- 2016 – “Celebrating the international labor movement”.
- 2015 – “Construct the Future of Cameroon in Peace, Solidarity and Decent Work”.
- 2014 – “Providing the Job with helping of the Capital by giving value the work”.
- 2013 – “Let’s value work by providing the jobless with start-up capital support”.
- 2012 – “Promote Employment by Supporting Prospective Entrepreneurs”.
Follow read4knowledge for more interesting articles.