Every year, May 1 is celebrated as International Workers Day to honour the achievements of labourers and workers and to encourage them to be aware of their rights.
Popularly known as ‘May Day’, it has its origins in the labour union movement in the United States in the 19th Century – specifically the eight-hour day movement.
The day in essence is aimed to help the labour class understand their rights and fight for equality in the workspace.
At places in the world, people observe the day by conducting marches and protests to ensure the workers’ rights and save them from being exploited.
The occasion actually provides an opportunity to renew our pledge to achieve rights for the inseparable class and very herding part of the society.
New York was the first state to introduce a bill recognizing Labour Day while Oregon was the first to pass a law on it on February 21, 1887. Later in 1889, the Marxist International Socialist Congress adopted a resolution for a great international demonstration in which they demanded that the workers should not be made to work for more than 8 hours a day. With this, it was also decided that May 1 would be declared as a holiday.
India began celebrating Labour Day on May 1, 1923, in Chennai, and is also known as ‘Kamgar Divas’, ‘Kamgar Din’, and ‘Antrarashtriya Shramik Divas’. The day was first observed by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan, and is considered a national holiday in the country.
Labour Day not only aims to recognise workers’ hard work but also to educate them about their rights and save them from being exploited. It is also geared towards inspiring efforts to provide better working conditions to labour and help them make progress.
The day provides an occasion that pays gratitude and respect to workers and their contribution in building the society.
The concerned authorities shall extend the benefits of government schemes to the target beneficiaries in a time bound manner.
There is also need to ensure that the labourers are protected from any form of exploitation. It is equally important that they are provided with necessary benefits, including financial assistance and medical aid, etc, as envisaged under rules and labour laws.
Stakeholders should make efforts to ensure that the living standards of the labour force are improved alongside better working conditions, job security and health insurance.
