International Labour Day 2026

International Labour Day Latest News

Every year, International Labour Day, also known as May Day, is celebrated on May 1 across the world.

About International Labour Day (ILD)

• International Labour Day, also known as May Day, is observed annually on May 1 to honor the dedication and contributions of workers across the globe.
• It is a memorial to the labor movement’s struggles and victories.
• History:
  • The origins of ILD trace back to the late 19th century when 400,000 workers across the USA organised a peaceful strike in Chicago on 1st May 1886. 
  • They were protesting to demand an eight-hour workday. 
  • Unfortunately, the strike turned violent, and several unarmed workers were killed by the police.  
  • It came to be known as the Haymarket Affair and was a turning point in the struggle for workers’ rights.
  • This turning point stimulated trade unions and socialist federations across Europe to declare May 1 an international day of workers’ solidarity, formally approved in 1889 at the Paris meeting of the Second International.
• While International Labour Day commemorates events in the United States, both the US and Canada observe Labour Day on the first Monday of September, not May 1.
• Over 80 countries, including India, Cuba, and China, mark ILD.
• In India, the first Labour Day celebration was held in Chennai (then Madras) in 1923 by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan.
  • Malayapuram Singaravelu Chettiar, the leader, raised the red flag for the first time in India and demanded that the government declare May 1 a national holiday to recognise workers’ rights. 
• The day usually involves parades, union gatherings, and celebrations that emphasize employee rights.
• May Day 2026 Theme: This year, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) selected the theme for May Day 2026 as: “Ensuring a Healthy Psychosocial Working Environment.”

Source: NDTV

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