100^th Labour Day- Background, Changes & Challenges

May 1st 2023 marks 100 years since the first Labour Day was celebrated in India in 1923. Today, the observation holds relevance as labour unions wane and imbalances between capital and labour challenge our pursuit of a just society.

Background:

• International Labour Day or May Day is observed on May 1st every year, to commemorate the labour movement and to highlight labour issues.
• Its origin can be traced back to 19th America.
  • On May 1st, 1886, the workers organized a strike demanding an 8-hour workday, in Chicago.
  • Workers across USA came together, demanding better working conditions, after a bomb exploded at the Haymarket Square labour rally.
• As the labour movement gained momentum with its increasingly a