International Labour Day, popularly known as International Workers’ Day or May Day is observed on May 01 every year. It is celebrated to highlight the importance of workers and their contribution to building society.
Workers’ rights have always been a point of discussion. In many parts of the world, labours are underpaid and are forced to work under unsafe conditions. This day is a reminder to acknowledge the contribution of workers to society, from providing essential services to building infrastructure for the convenience of the general public.
History
The root of Labours’ Day can be traced back to 1886 when the Haymarket Riot erupted involving violent clashes between the labourers and police. Thousands of workers marched through the streets of Chicago demanding and 8-hour workday. In 1889, a worldwide organisation of socialist and labour parties, Second International, declared May 01 as International Workers’ Day in the memory of Haymarket incident and to promote the rights of workers. Several reports suggest that Canada started celebrating Labour Day 10 years before the United States.
In India, the first May Day was celebrated by The Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan in Madras (now Chennai) in 1923. May 1 is also celebrated as ‘Maharashtra Day’ and ‘Gujarat Day’ to mark the statehood status of these two states in 1960.
Significance
International Workers’ Day is an opportunity to honour and recognize the contribution of workers toward building infrastructure and providing essential services to society. It is also a reminder to acknowledge the struggle and movement of workers to attain their rights and improve working conditions.
In today’s time, social inequality is still prevalent among workers across different industries and countries. May Day serves as a platform for these workers to raise their voices and tell the policymakers and politicians to work in the direction of social justice.
Quotes
✦ “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” — Confucious.
✦ “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
✦ “Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, and your spirit. Then get back to work.” — Ralph Marston
✦ “The dignity of labor depends not on what you do, but how you do it.” — Edwin Osgood
✦ “No human masterpiece has been created without great labor.” — Andre Gide
✦ “Labour Day is a time to recognize the contributions of workers to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” — Tom Perez
Workers’ rights have always been a point of discussion. In many parts of the world, labours are underpaid and are forced to work under unsafe conditions. This day is a reminder to acknowledge the contribution of workers to society, from providing essential services to building infrastructure for the convenience of the general public.
History
The root of Labours’ Day can be traced back to 1886 when the Haymarket Riot erupted involving violent clashes between the labourers and police. Thousands of workers marched through the streets of Chicago demanding and 8-hour workday. In 1889, a worldwide organisation of socialist and labour parties, Second International, declared May 01 as International Workers’ Day in the memory of Haymarket incident and to promote the rights of workers. Several reports suggest that Canada started celebrating Labour Day 10 years before the United States.
In India, the first May Day was celebrated by The Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan in Madras (now Chennai) in 1923. May 1 is also celebrated as ‘Maharashtra Day’ and ‘Gujarat Day’ to mark the statehood status of these two states in 1960.
Significance
International Workers’ Day is an opportunity to honour and recognize the contribution of workers toward building infrastructure and providing essential services to society. It is also a reminder to acknowledge the struggle and movement of workers to attain their rights and improve working conditions.
In today’s time, social inequality is still prevalent among workers across different industries and countries. May Day serves as a platform for these workers to raise their voices and tell the policymakers and politicians to work in the direction of social justice.
Quotes
✦ “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” — Confucious.
✦ “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
✦ “Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, and your spirit. Then get back to work.” — Ralph Marston
✦ “The dignity of labor depends not on what you do, but how you do it.” — Edwin Osgood
✦ “No human masterpiece has been created without great labor.” — Andre Gide
✦ “Labour Day is a time to recognize the contributions of workers to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.” — Tom Perez
