International Workers’ Day celebrated around the world

Labour Day, also known as International Workers’ Day, is widely celebrated as a public holiday in countries across the world.

It was chosen to commemorate the 1886 Haymarket affair in Chicago, when workers went on strike to demand an eight-hour working day. What began as a peaceful rally soon became violent when an unknown individual threw a bomb at police, thought to be in retaliation for the killing of protesting workers the previous day by police.

Three years later, an alliance of French socialist and labour parties called for international demonstrations on the anniversary of the Haymarket affair. They chose the first of May as the formal date to commemorate the striking workers in Chicago.

Some countries celebrate a Labour Day on other dates of the year; but in most countries, Labour Day is celebrated on 1st of May. .

In recent times the traditional date of 1 May has seen workers across the globe staying true to the spirit of the labour movement, actively exercising the right to collective action. On 1 May 2012, the Occupy Wall Street movement held protests in several cities in America and Canada to protest against economic inequality.

Photos depict how International Workers’ Day was marked around the world: