International Labour Day is celebrated annually on May 1 worldwide to recognize and honour the achievements of labourers and workers and to promote awareness of their rights.
The day has its roots in the labour union movement in the United States during the 19th Century, particularly in the eight-hour day movement. While New York was the first state to introduce a bill recognizing Labour Day, Oregon was the first to pass a law on it on February 21, 1887.
In 1889, the Marxist International Socialist Congress adopted a resolution for a great international demonstration, declaring May 1 as a holiday and demanding that workers not work for more than 8 hours a day.
In India, the first Labour Day was celebrated in Chennai on May 1, 1923, and is known as ‘Kamgar Divas,’ ‘Kamgar Din,’ and ‘Antrarashtriya Shramik Divas’. The day is observed as a national holiday in the country and was first celebrated by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan.