1st May is celebrated as the International Workers Day. It is also known as Labour’s Day or Worker’s Day or even May Day in some countries.
- Labour Day is a public holiday in many countries including India.
- In India, it is also known as the Antarrashtriya Shramik Diwas.
Background
- In the 19th century, trade union and labour movements were growing in the US. It was decided that May 1 would be celebrated as International Workers' Day to commemorate the aftermath of a bombing at a labour protest.
- May 1 was chosen to be International Workers' Day to commemorate the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago. A rally took place in Chicago in support of the workers and during that protest, a dynamite bomb was thrown at the police. Gunfire was ensued and four civilians were killed. May Day was formally recognized as an annual event in 1891.
Key Facts
- This day celebrates labourers and the working class.
- Google marked International Labour Day with a doodle on its homepage to celebrate the working class in the organised sector.
- The doodle is an illustration that includes tools and equipment, including gloves, ladles and a torch, used in several trades to represent their work.
- In India, the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan was the first to mark the day in Chennai on May 1, 1923.
- The party had passed a resolution demanding a national holiday on May 1.
