“You cannot buy a man with a good principle. Once you have them, never lose them. They are the one who fight for what they believe is right until the end. They aspire to bring the company to a better future and always will they hope for great things.”
International Workers’ Day, also referred to as labour Day, is celebrated internationally as an off for the blue-collar workers that toil each day to keep things running smooth. Here’s why the day is of utmost importance.
Globally the day is known as May Day and is an official public holiday for many countries like the People’s Republic of China, North Korea, Cuba, and Russia.
Google Doodle is honouring the day today with an orange-coloured doodle that has little details like tools, rubber gloves, workers, stethoscope, safety helmets, batteries, nuts and bolts, painting roll-ons, wires, glasses to light torches, etc.
Significance of labour Day
Its origin raised up from a movement mobilized by the labour union at the time of Industrialization.
Industrialists exploited the labour class by making them work for up to 15 hours a day
Finally, the union took the courage to unite and raise their voice on May Day (first day of the month) against the unfair treatment and demanded paid leaves, proper wages and breaks for the workforce
This the movement that is particularly known as the eight-hour day movement, as it supported eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest
The day has long been a crucial point for demonstrations by various socialist, communist and anarchist groups too
May Day in India
The first celebration of the day in India was organized in Madras (now Chennai) by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan on May 1, 1923
This was also the time when the Red Flag (the day’s symbol used since its foundation) was first used in India
In addition, it should be noted that May 1, apart from being Labour Day, is also marked as ‘Maharashtra Day’ and ‘Gujarat Day’ to mark the date in 1960 — when the two western states attained statehood after the erstwhile Bombay state was divided into linguistic lines
This May Day, it is also important to know that child labour in India is prohibited under the Child Labour Act of 1986, which bars employing people below 14 years. The Act was directed towards achieving better labour standards and to ensure no abuse or maltreatment of children by industries and industrialists.
