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About the Day
What is International Labour Day?
International Labour Day โ also called Workers' Day or May Day โ is observed on 1 May every year in over 80 countries. It is a day to recognize the contributions of the working class to society, celebrate hard-won labor rights, and recommit to the dignity and welfare of every worker.
"Without labour nothing prospers."
In India, the day is called Antarrashtriya Shramik Diwas (International Workers' Day) or Kamgar Din. It is a public holiday in most Indian states. Trade unions, workers' organizations, and political parties hold rallies, processions, and public meetings to highlight workers' issues and achievements.
1886
Haymarket affair โ origin of May Day
1923
First Labour Day in India (Chennai)
50 Cr+
Workers in India's labour force
8 hrs
The 8-hour workday Labour Day fought for
History
How Labour Day Was Born
- 1860sโ1880sIndustrial workers in America and Europe routinely worked 10โ16 hours a day, 6โ7 days a week in dangerous conditions. The labor movement demanded an 8-hour workday: "Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight hours for what we will."
- 1 May 1886A general strike begins across the United States as workers walk off the job demanding 8-hour workdays. 300,000 workers participate. In Chicago, strikes turn into the Haymarket Affair when a bomb explodes at a labor rally, killing police and workers and leading to executions of labor leaders.
- 1889The Second International (socialist parties) in Paris declares 1 May as International Workers' Day in memory of the Haymarket martyrs, with the first official observance in 1890.
- 1 May 1923India's first Labour Day is celebrated in Madras (Chennai) by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan led by Singaravelu Chettiar โ who also raised the red flag for the first time in India. Meetings are held at Triplicane Beach and at the High Court Beach.
- 1947โPresentPost-Independence India enacts major labour protections: the Factories Act (1948), Minimum Wages Act (1948), Employees' Provident Fund Act (1952), Maternity Benefit Act (1961), and more. Labour Day becomes a national public holiday.
India Focus
Labour Day in India โ Who We Honor
India's Workers
India's workforce of over 500 million people is the backbone of the world's 5th-largest economy. Labour Day in India is a moment to honor construction workers who build our cities, farmers who feed 1.4 billion people, garment workers, domestic workers, sanitation workers, factory workers, gig economy workers, and daily wage earners โ many of whom have no formal contracts, social security, or safe working conditions.
Key Indian Labor Laws: The Factories Act (1948) regulates working hours and safety. The Minimum Wages Act ensures no worker earns below subsistence level. The Code on Wages (2019) consolidates 4 labor laws. The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA, 2005) guarantees 100 days of minimum wage work to rural households โ the world's largest public works programme.
Workers' Rights
Fundamental Rights Every Indian Worker Has
- 1Right to Minimum WageEvery worker in India โ formal or informal โ is entitled to a minimum wage set by the central or state government for their category of work. As of 2024, the central minimum wage floor is โน176 per day for unskilled workers.
- 2Right to Safe Working ConditionsThe Factories Act and related laws mandate safe, hygienic workplaces, proper ventilation, drinking water, first aid, and limits on hazardous exposure. Employers who violate these face legal penalties.
- 3Right to 8-Hour Workday & Overtime PayNo adult worker can be required to work more than 9 hours a day or 48 hours a week without overtime pay of double the ordinary wage. This right โ won through decades of labor struggles โ is enshrined in the Factories Act.
- 4Right to Organize & StrikeWorkers have the constitutional right to form trade unions (Article 19), bargain collectively, and go on strike. India has over 12 central trade union organizations representing millions of workers.
- 5Maternity Benefit & Child Labour ProhibitionThe Maternity Benefit Act (amended 2017) provides 26 weeks of paid maternity leave to women in establishments with 10+ employees. The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act bans employment of children under 14 in any occupation.
How to Observe
Ways to Honor Labour Day
Thank the Invisible Workers
Say a genuine thank-you to your building's security guard, the garbage collector, the domestic helper, the delivery person, and the construction worker. Their dignity matters.
Pay Fair & On Time
If you employ domestic workers, daily-wage workers, or gig workers โ pay fairly, pay on time, and ensure they have basic benefits. Fair wages are the most direct form of social justice.
Learn About Labour Rights
Learn the key labour laws. Help a worker in your circle understand their rights โ to minimum wage, overtime pay, maternity leave, or provident fund contributions.
Support Ethical Brands
Before buying, check if brands have ethical labor practices. Support companies that pay fair wages, provide safe conditions, and don't use child labor in their supply chain.
Amplify Workers' Voices
Share stories of labor rights violations and victories on social media. Organizations like Jan Sahas, SEWA (Self Employed Women's Association), and AITUC work for labor rights in India.
Attend Local Events
Trade union rallies, workers' cultural programmes, and awareness events are held across India on 1 May. Attending โ even as a supporter โ shows solidarity.
A Tribute
To Every Worker Who Builds India
"เคถเฅเคฐเคฎ เคนเฅ เคชเฅเคเคพ เคนเฅ" โ Shram hi Pooja hai
"Work itself is worship"
"Work itself is worship"
India's ancient saying โ echoed by Mahatma Gandhi and embedded in the nation's ethos โ that honest labor is the highest form of devotion. On Labour Day, we bow to every hand that builds, every back that carries, every mind that creates.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on Labour:
"Unlike a drop of water which loses its identity when it joins the ocean, man does not lose his being in the society in which he lives. Man's life is independent. He is born not for the development of the society alone, but for the development of his self."
Key Support Organizations for Workers in India:
SEWA (Self Employed Women's Association) ยท Jan Sahas ยท Aajeevika Bureau ยท Prayas Centre for Labour Research ยท Domestic Workers Rights Union ยท Shramik Sangathan
"Unlike a drop of water which loses its identity when it joins the ocean, man does not lose his being in the society in which he lives. Man's life is independent. He is born not for the development of the society alone, but for the development of his self."
Key Support Organizations for Workers in India:
SEWA (Self Employed Women's Association) ยท Jan Sahas ยท Aajeevika Bureau ยท Prayas Centre for Labour Research ยท Domestic Workers Rights Union ยท Shramik Sangathan