International Workers' Day

International Workers' Day, also called Labour Day in some countries and often referred to as May Day, is a celebration of labourers, the labour movement and the working class. It happens every year on 1 May, or the first Monday in May.

The idea began in 1889 when the International Workers Congress in Paris decided to hold a big event to support workers' rights. They picked May 1st to remember a big workers' strike in the United States that started in 1886.

Today, many countries mark this day as a public holiday. In some places, like the United States and Canada, they celebrate Labour Day at a different time—in early September. In 1955, the Catholic Church chose May 1st to honor Saint Joseph the Worker.

Origin

Labor Celebration days have been celebrated in some European countries since the late 1700s.

On 21 April 1856, Australian stonemasons in Victoria stopped working to support the idea of an eight-hour workday. This became a yearly event and inspired American workers to also stop working. 1 May was chosen as International Workers' Day to remember the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago.

In 1889, the first meeting of the Second International happened in Paris. On 1 May 1890, many countries held demonstrations. International Workers' Day was officially recognized as an annual event at the International's second congress in 1891.

In the United States and Canada, a September holiday called Labor or Labour Day was first suggested in the 1880s. In 1887, Oregon became the first state in the United States to make it an official public holiday. By 1894, when it became an official federal holiday, thirty US states celebrated Labor Day.

International Workers' Day has sometimes been used for demonstrations by different groups. It is an important holiday in countries like China, Vietnam, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and the former Soviet Union countries.

In 1955, the Catholic Church dedicated 1 May to "Saint Joseph the Worker". Saint Joseph is the patron saint of workers and craftsmen.

Today, most countries around the world celebrate a workers' day on 1 May.

By country

Africa

Algeria

In Algeria, 1 May is a public holiday celebrated as Worker's Day.

Angola

1 May is recognized as public holiday in Angola and called Workers' Day.

Egypt

In Egypt, 1 May is known as Labour Day and is considered a paid holiday. The President of Egypt traditionally presides over the celebrations.

Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, 1 May is a public holiday and celebrated as Worker's Day.

Ghana

1 May is a holiday in Ghana. It is a day to celebrate all workers across the country. It is celebrated with a parade by trade unions and labour associations.

Kenya

In Kenya, 1 May is a public holiday and celebrated as Labour Day. It is a big day addressed by the leaders of the workers' umbrella union body – the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU).

Libya

In Libya, International Workers' Day was declared a national public holiday by the National Transitional Council in 2012.

Mauritius

In Mauritius, 1 May is a public holiday celebrated as Labour Day. It was celebrated for the first time in Mauritius on 1 May 1938, and for the first time as an official public holiday on 1 May 1950.

Morocco

In Morocco, 1 May is recognized as a public holiday.

Mozambique

Mozambique celebrates International Workers' Day on 1 May.

Namibia

1 May is recognized as public holiday in Namibia and celebrated as Workers' Day.

Nigeria

Since 1981, 1 May is a public holiday in Nigeria. On the day, people gather while, traditionally, the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress and other politicians address workers.

Somalia

In Somalia, 1 May is a public holiday and celebrated as Labour Day.

South Africa

In South Africa, Workers' Day has been celebrated as a national public holiday on 1 May each year since 1995.

Tanzania

In Tanzania, it is a public holiday on 1 May and celebrated as Worker's Day.

Tunisia

1 May is recognized as Labour Day in Tunisia, and is a paid public holiday

Uganda

In Uganda, Labour Day is a public holiday on 1 May.

Zimbabwe

1 May is recognized as a public holiday in Zimbabwe and called Workers' Day.

Americas

Antigua and Barbuda

In Antigua and Barbuda, Labour Day is a public holiday on the first Monday in May.

Argentina

In Argentina, Workers' Day is an official holiday on 1 May, and is frequently associated with labour unions. Celebrations related to labour are held including demonstrations in major cities.

Barbados

In Barbados, International Workers' Day is a public holiday celebrated on 1 May.

Bolivia

1 May is known as Labour Day and is a holiday.

Brazil

In Brazil, "Workers' Day" is an official holiday celebrated on 1 May, and unions commemorate it with day-long public events.

Canada

In Canada, Labour Day is celebrated in September.

International Workers' Day is however marked by unions and leftists on 1 May. It is an important day of trade union and community group protest in the province of Quebec (though not a provincial statutory holiday).

Chile

President General of the Army Carlos Ibáñez del Campo decreed 1 May a national holiday in 1931, in honour of the dignity of workers.

Colombia

1 May has long been recognized as Labour Day and almost all workers respect it as a national holiday.

Costa Rica

First celebrated in 1913, labor day is a public holiday, and at the same time an important day for government activities.

Cuba

This day is known as Labour Day in Cuba. People march in the streets, showing their support to the Cuban Communist government and the Cuban Revolution during the whole morning.

Dominica

In Dominica, Labour Day is a public holiday on the first Monday in May.

Dominican Republic

1 May is a national holiday known as Labour Day and celebrated by festivities.

Ecuador

In Ecuador, 1 May is an official public holiday known as Labour Day.

El Salvador

1 May is an official public holiday known as Labour Day.

Guatemala

1 May is an official public holiday known as Labour Day.

Haiti

1 May is an official public holiday known as Agriculture and Labour Day.

Honduras

1 May is an official holiday, known as "Labour Day" within Honduras.

Mexico

1 May is a public holiday.

Panama

1 May is an official public holiday, known as "Labour Day" within Panama.

Paraguay

1 May is an official public holiday, known as "Labour Day" within Paraguay.

Peru

1 May is an official public holiday, known as "Labour Day" within Peru.

Saint Kitts and Nevis

In Saint Kitts and Nevis, Labour Day is a public holiday on the first Monday in May.

United States

Main article: Labor Day

In the U.S. starting in 1887, a "Labor Day" celebrated on the first Monday in September was given increasing state recognition. Then in 1894, in the wake of the nationwide Pullman Strike, Congress and President Grover Cleveland passed a law declaring Labor Day a federal holiday.

Efforts to recognize 1 May as a holiday have not been successful.

Uruguay

In Uruguay, 1 May – Workers' Day – is an official holiday.

Venezuela

In Venezuela, Workers' Day (El Día del Trabajador) is celebrated on 1 May since 1936,

East Asia

Mainland China

1 May is a statutory holiday in the People's Republic of China.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, 1 May is known as Labour Day and has been considered a public holiday since 1999.

Macau

In Macau, it is a public holiday and is officially known as Dia do Trabalhador (Portuguese for "Workers' Day").

Taiwan

1 May is known as Labor Day in Taiwan.

Japan

See also: Labor Thanksgiving Day

International Workers' Day is not officially designated by the Japanese government as a national holiday, but as it lies between other national holidays, it is a day off work for the vast majority of Japanese workers.

North Korea

In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, 1 May is known as International Workers' Day, and is a public holiday.

South Korea

In the Republic of Korea, 1 May is known simply as "Workers' Day". It is a public holiday since 2026 by the Designation of Workers' Day Act.

Europe

Albania

Labour Day (Albanian: Dita e punëtorëve) is an official holiday celebrated on 1 May and thus schools and most businesses are closed.

Armenia

Labour Day (Armenian: Աշխատանքի օր, ashxatanki or) is an official holiday celebrated on 1 May.

Austria

Labour Day (Tag der Arbeit), officially called Staatsfeiertag (state's holiday), is a public holiday in Austria.

Belgium

In Belgium, Labour Day (Dutch: Dag van de Arbeid, Feest van de Arbeid, French: Journée des travailleurs, Fête du travail), is observed on 1 May and is an official holiday since 1948.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1 and 2 May (Bosnian and Serbian: Prvi Maj / Први Mај, Croatian: Prvi Svibanj) are an official holiday and day-off for public bodies and schools at the national level.

Bulgaria

Labour Day is one of the public holidays in Bulgaria, where it is known as Labour Day and International Workers' Solidarity Day (Bulgarian: Ден на труда и на международната работническа солидарност) and celebrated annually on 1 May.

Croatia

In Croatia, 1 May is a national holiday, Labour Day. Many public events are organized and held all over the country

Cyprus

In Cyprus, 1 May (Greek: Εργατική Πρωτομαγιά) is considered as an official Public Holiday (Labour Day).

Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, 1 May is an official and national holiday known as Labour Day (Czech: Svátek práce).

Denmark

In Denmark, 1 May is not an official holiday, but a variety of individuals, mostly in the public sector, construction industry, and production industry, get a half or a whole day off.

Estonia

In Estonia, 1 May is a public holiday and celebrated as part of May Day (Kevadpüha).

Finland

In Finland, 1 May is an official and national holiday. It is mainly celebrated as a feast of students, and spring, called vappu or Walpurgis Night.

France

In France, 1 May is a public holiday called Workers' Day (French: Fête des Travailleurs). It is, in fact, the only day of the year when employees are legally obliged to be given leave, save professions that cannot be interrupted due to their nature (such as workers in hospitals and public transport).

Germany

In April 1933, the recently installed Nazi government declared 1 May the "Day of National Work", an official state holiday, and announced that all celebrations were to be organized by the government.

After World War II, 1 May remained a state holiday in both East and West Germany.

Greece

In Greece, 1 May is an optional public holiday, but is treated by workers as a strike.

Hungary

Hungary celebrates 1 May as a national holiday, Workers' Day (Hungarian: A munka ünnepe), with open-air festivities and fairs all over the country.

Iceland

In Iceland, Labour Day (Icelandic: Baráttudagur verkalýðsins) is a public holiday.

Ireland

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) marks International Workers' Day with rallies in Belfast and Dublin and other events such as lectures, concerts and film screenings also take place around a wider International Workers' Day festival.

Italy

The first International Workers' Day celebration in Italy took place in 1890. Industrialists threatened to fire absent workers, so most industrial workers showed up to work.

It was abolished under the Fascist regime and immediately restored after the Second World War.

Lithuania

In Lithuania, 1 May is an official public holiday celebrated as International Work Day (Lithuanian: Tarptautinė darbo diena).

Latvia

In Latvia, Labour Day is an official public holiday celebrated as Convocation of the Constituent Assembly of the Republic of Latvia, Labour Day.

Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, 1 May, called the Dag vun der Aarbecht ("Labour Day"), is a legal holiday traditionally associated with large demonstrations by trade unions in Luxembourg City and other cities.

Malta

In Malta, 1 May is an official public holiday celebrated as "Workers' Day", together with the religious feast of Saint Joseph the Worker.

Montenegro

In Montenegro, 1 May is an official public holiday and a day off work and a day out of school.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands, 1 May or Labour Day (Dutch: Dag van de Arbeid) is not an official holiday.

North Macedonia

In North Macedonia, 1 May (Macedonian: Ден на Трудот, Den na Trudot) is an official public holiday.

Norway

In Norway, Labour Day (Norwegian: Arbeidernes Dag) is celebrated 1 May and has been an official public holiday since 1947.

Poland

In Poland, since the fall of communism, 1 May is officially celebrated as Labour Day. It is customary for labour activists to organize parades in cities and towns across Poland.

Portugal

In Portugal, Workers' Day (Portuguese: Dia do Trabalhador) on 1 May was suppressed during the Estado Novo dictatorship. The first workers' day demonstration was held a week after the Carnation Revolution of 25 April 1974. It is still the largest demonstration in the history of Portugal. It is used as an opportunity for workers and workers' groups to voice their discontent over working conditions in demonstrations across Portugal, the largest being held in Lisbon. It is an official public holiday.

Romania

In Romania, 1 May, known as the "International Labour Day" (Romanian: Ziua internațională a muncii), the "International Workers' Day" (Ziua internațională a muncitorilor), or simply "1/First of May" (1/Întâi Mai), is an official public holiday.

Russia

In Russia, the "Day of International Workers Solidarity, the 1st of May" (Russian: День международной солидарности трудящихся Первое ма́я) was celebrated illegally in the country until the February Revolution enabled the first legal celebration in 1917.

It became an important official holiday of the Soviet Union, celebrated with elaborate popular parade in the centre of the major cities.

Serbia

In Serbia, 1 May (and also 2 May) is a day off work and a day out of school. It is one of the major popular holidays, and the only official holiday from socialist times that is still officially celebrated.

Slovakia

In Slovakia, 1 May is an official holiday.

Slovenia

In Slovenia, 1 May and 2 May are public holidays.

Spain

Main article: Labor Day in Spain

In Spain, the first Workers' Day (Día del Trabajador) was celebrated in 1889 but only became a public holiday with the beginning of the Spanish Second Republic in 1931.

Sweden

1 May has been an important part of Swedish history since the late 19th century. The day was made a public holiday in 1938 but had been celebrated by the Swedish Social Democratic Party and the left since 1890.

Switzerland

In Switzerland, the status of 1 May differs depending on the canton and sometimes on the municipality. Labour Day is known as Tag der Arbeit in German-speaking cantons, as Fête du travail in the French-speaking cantons, and as Festa del lavoro in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino.

Turkey

1 May is an official holiday celebrated in Turkey. It was a holiday as "Spring Day" until 1981 when it was canceled after the 1980 coup d'état. In 2009, the Turkish government restored the holiday after some casualties and demonstrations.

Ukraine

International Workers' Day is a public holiday in Ukraine, inherited from the Soviet era.

United Kingdom

A public bank holiday in the United Kingdom was created in 1978. It is called the "Early May bank holiday" and is held on the first Monday in May each year.

Oceania

Australia

See also: Labour Day § Australia

While unofficial activities and commemorations associated with International Workers' Day occur on 1 May in Australia, Labour Day in the various states and territories generally falls on other days. In the Northern Territory and Queensland, Labour Day is a public holiday on the first Monday in May.

New Zealand

New Zealand workers were among the first in the world to claim the right for an eight-hour working day when, in 1840, the carpenter Samuel Parnell won an eight-hour day in Wellington. Labour Day was first celebrated in New Zealand on 28 October 1890. Labour Day falls every year on the fourth Monday of October.

South Asia

Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, 1 May is a public holiday and called International Workers' Solidarity Day.

India

In India, Labour Day is a not a public holiday on 1 May. The International Workers' Day is tied to labour movements for communist and socialist political parties. Labour Day is known as "Uzhaipalar dhinam" in Tamil and was first celebrated in Madras (now Chennai) by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan on 1 May 1923.

Maldives

Maldives first observed the holiday in 2011, after a declaration by President Mohamed Nasheed.

Nepal

International Workers' Day has been celebrated in Nepal since 1963. The day became a public holiday in 2007.

Pakistan

International Labour Day is observed in Pakistan on 1 May to commemorate the social and economic achievements of workers. It is a public and national holiday.

Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, International Workers' Day was declared a public, bank, and mercantile holiday in 1956.

Southeast Asia

Cambodia

In Cambodia, it is known as International Labour Day and is a public holiday.

Indonesia

International Workers' Day, or Labour Day, in Indonesia was first observed by Kung Tang Hwee labour union in Semarang on 1918.

Malaysia

Malaysia began observing the holiday in 1972 following an announcement by the late Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Ismail Abdul Rahman.

Myanmar

In Myanmar, 1 May is known as Labour Day (Burmese: အလုပ်သမားနေ့) and is a public holiday.

Philippines

1 May is known as "Labor Day" (Filipino: Araw ng Manggagawa, also known as Araw ng Paggawa) and is a public holiday in the Philippines.

Singapore

In Singapore, it is known as Labour Day and is a public holiday.

Thailand

In Thailand, the day is known in English as National Labour Day, and is one of 17 official public holidays in Thailand.

Vietnam

In Vietnam, it is known as International Labour Day (Vietnamese: Ngày Quốc tế Lao động) and is a public holiday.

Official observation by country and territory