- No human masterpiece has been created without great labour. …
- Nothing will work unless you do. …
- The miracle is not that we do this work, but that we are happy to do it. …
- Nothing ever comes to one that is worth having except as a result of hard work. …
- Nothing thrives without Labour.
International Labour Day is celebrated every year on 1 May to commemorate the struggles and sacrifices of the workers’ and labours’ movement. It is also known as May Day. Labour Day is an official holiday observed on the first day of May. As the world industrialized in the mid to late 1800’s and early 1900’s, the dismal working conditions in many factories led to the establishment of Labour Day, also called “International Workers Day”, to demand things like an 8-hour work day, safer working conditions, and increased pay. The origins of Labour Day can be traced back to the late 19th century when workers across the globe began demanding better working conditions, fair wages, and shorter working hours. International Labour Day is celebrated in more than 80 countries, including India, Cuba, and China. People in different parts of the world hold marches on this day to promote the rights of working-class people and to protect them from exploitation. The tradition of Labour Day dates back to 19th century America. On May 1st, 1886 workers in Chicago organized a strike to demand an eight-hour workday. However, workers across the US came together to demand their rights and to fight for better working conditions after a bomb exploded at a labour rally in Haymarket Square. In 1889, the International congress of socialist parties met in Paris and decided to celebrate Labour Day or Worker’s Day on May 1.
Pakistan made Labour Day, also called May Day, an official holiday in 1972, the same year when major labour reform legislation was passed. Also, Pakistan has been a member of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) since 1947.
In Pakistan, labour unions put on major rallies and parades each Labour Day. They also hold special discussion panels and seminars, and some people even demonstrate in the streets, demanding “a better deal” for Pakistani workers. Additionally, Radio Pakistan and other stations put on special programming to raise public awareness of the meaning of the day.
Those most likely to be working on Labor Day are technical and security workers. The survey of more than 100 human resources and employee relations professionals revealed that 15% of employers are making their security or public-safety personnel and technical employees report to work on Labor Day.
In addition, 13% of the employers surveyed will have professional employees working on Labor Day, 11% will have managers or supervisors on the clock, and 10% will have service and maintenance, sales, and customer service personnel report to work.
Larger businesses are those most likely to have some workers reporting for work on Labor Day. The research found that 80% of businesses with at least 1,000 employees will require at least some of them to work on Labor Day, compared to just 29% of small businesses.
The study also found that 56% of non-business organizations, such as hospitals and government agencies, will have some employees working on Labor Day, compared with only 35% of non-manufacturers and 30% of manufacturers.
Labour Day is celebrated around the world to raise awareness of the rights of working people and to protect them from exploitation. It also serves as a reminder of the important role played by the working class in our society.
