Labour Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, is celebrated every year on May 1st to honour the accomplishments and contributions of workers to society.
Nigeria is one of the 160 countries that celebrates Workers Day. However, while many countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas observe a holiday on May 1st to recognise workers, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, and New Zealand are some of the few countries that do not celebrate this occasion.
Here are things to know about Workers’ Day
International Labour Day was first started in the late 19th-century labour movement in the United States. In 1886, May 1st was selected as the date to commemorate a nationwide strike advocating for an eight-hour workday. However, the movement later turned violent in Chicago, and it was remembered as Haymarket Affairs.
In 1889, numerous socialist parties in Europe united to establish May 1st as International Labour Day, and it has been celebrated annually on that date ever since.
The day is marked by various events and seminars that emphasise the achievements and contributions of workers, with many using the occasion to raise awareness about workers’ rights.
