Are you one of those who feel that Labour Day or May Day is more about blue-collar employees rather than white-collar employees? Well, you’re not alone; I also held the same belief and always wondered why this was a holiday for corporate employees during the early days of my career. Do you appreciate your official 8 to 9-hour working day, annual leaves, and maternity/paternity leaves that give you personal time? You may want to thank the May 1st movement across various countries.

Let’s understand, what it is and why it is celebrated in most of the countries across globally?

International Labour Day, also known as May Day, is celebrated annually on May 1st to honor the labor movement’s achievements and to acknowledge the vital contributions of workers globally. The day commemorates the historic struggles and gains made by workers and unions, especially highlighting the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago, which was a pivotal moment in labor rights history. This event is marked by public demonstrations and rallies in many countries, emphasizing the ongoing relevance of labor rights in improving working conditions. Celebrating Labour Day serves as a reminder of the progress achieved in workers’ rights and the continuous efforts required to ensure fair treatment and equitable conditions for all workers worldwide.

In India, May Day or Labour Day is celebrated with various regional names reflecting the country’s linguistic diversity. It is known as Kamgar Din or Majdoor Diwas in Hindi, Karmikara Dinacharane in Kannada, Karmika Dinotsavam in Telugu, Kamgar Divas in Marathi, Uzhaipalar Dhinam in Tamil, Thozhilaali Dinam in Malayalam, Shromik Dibosh in Bengali etc. These names signify the recognition and celebration of the labor force’s contributions across different parts of India, each adding a local flavor to the universal observance of Labour Day.

Each country has its own unique way of marking Labour Day, but India first celebrated it on May 1, 1923, in Chennai, then known as Madras. The Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan organized the initial May Day festivities that year. Since then, Labour Day has been recognized as a public holiday across India.

Recent years have seen pivotal legal changes and judicial decisions in India aimed at protecting worker rights:

Over the last decade, the Government of India has implemented several key initiatives aimed at improving the welfare and working conditions of the labor force. Notably, the introduction of the four labor codes—on wages, social security, industrial relations, and occupational safety, health, and working conditions—is a significant reform. These codes aim to simplify and modernize labor regulations, making them more transparent and adaptable to changing industrial scenarios. Efforts have also been made to increase the minimum wages and extend social security benefits to the unorganized sector, including gig and platform workers, reflecting a commitment to securing a more inclusive and equitable working environment. These measures represent a significant shift towards enhancing the quality of life for millions of workers across the country, promoting fair labor practices and ensuring that the rights of workers are protected.

The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, consolidates and amends the laws regulating the occupational safety, health, and working conditions of persons employed in an establishment. This comprehensive legislation is designed to streamline and simplify the myriad of laws previously addressing these aspects across various sectors.

The Government of India had announced in 2023 a progressive update to the maternity benefits that are part of the Maternity Benefit (Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017) . This new directive extends the existing maternity leave the Government has increased paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks of which not more than eight weeks shall precede the date of expected delivery. This change is designed to support working mothers by allowing them more time to care for their newborns while maintaining their professional roles. This initiative not only aims to foster a supportive work environment but also encourages a healthy balance between work and family life for new mothers.

Thank you for reading about the importance of May day, please feel free to share among your network!

Sources: 

https://labour.gov.in/whatsnew/occupational-safety-health-and-working-conditions-code-2020-no-37-2020
https://indianexpress.com/article/when-is/international-labour-day-2024-date-origin-significance-may-day-9284138/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labour_Day#:~:text=The%20first%20labour%20day%20was,a%20public%20holiday%20in%20India
https://indianexpress.com/article/when-is/international-labour-day-2024-date-origin-significance-may-day-9284138/
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1898874