International Labour Day 2025: Which countries get a holiday?
International Labour Day, also called May Day or International Worker Day, is celebrated every year on May 1st. This day is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the efforts and challenges faced by workers globally.
This reveres the work done by an employee in any field. Emphasizes management and collaboration while underlining the concept of a labor force as a peculiar invention. The core idea of international workers' day emerged from the historical labor movement.
Considering the work structure in multiple nations, it is notable that the observance may differ in ceremony and date, but combat for unity in fair terms of employment, wage, and social advocacy remains a central motive.
Labour Day 2025: The date
May Day Labor Day celebrations will take place on Thursday, May 1 as marks the commemoration of Haymarket Affair Chicago 1886, a protest that sought and fought for an 8-hour workday. The violence also marked the international recognition May Day stood as uniting symbol for workers globally.
Theme for 2025
As of now, the ILO has not yet announced the official ILO theme for 2025. However, previous years have focused on:
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Equitable work and socio-economic justice
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Workplace safety and health
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Shifting work patterns due to technology
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Inclusion and diversity, notably for women
Who observes May 1 as a holiday?
Over 160 countries celebrate May Day as a public holiday which is commonly commemorated with public demonstrations and other activities. Interestingly, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada do not celebrate Labour Day on this date.
Divergent Observances in the US, UK, and Canada US: Labour Day in September
Though the United States has a historical connection with observing May Day, it does not celebrate Labour Day on the 1st of May. Rather, Labour Day is celebrated on the first Monday of September.
The Pullman Strike of 1894 led to this violent change as commemoration of American labour was intentionally divorced from social and communist sentiments often affiliated with May Day.
Canada: Aligning with the US
Canada distinguishes itself from the international May Day by observing both May Day and Labour Day on the first Monday of September.
United Kingdom and Ireland: Early May bank holiday
May Day’s proximity to Early May Bank Holiday places the holiday’s celebration in the United Kingdom and Ireland context as a general labour celebration instead of a commemoration of spring.
Other global practices
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Australia and New Zealand: The observance of Labour Day significantly varies per region as it is celebrated on different dates in each locality, marking local milestones in civil rights.
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Netherlands: Onderwijsdag does not fall on the list of official public holidays.
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Germany, France, Brazil, India, and a large portion of Asia and Latin America: The observance of Labour Day is widespread and marked as a national holiday.
Why the differences?
The different ways in which International Labour Day is celebrated in different countries is a result of differing political, cultural, and historical factors. While the socialists endorsed the May Day celebration, Western democracies like the United States and Canada detached themselves largely due to Cold War politics and apprehensions about radical ideas.
Universal Spirit
While international holidays are hard to come by, core sentiments of International Workers' Day: unity, collective action, and struggle remain shared across borders. On May 1, 2025, it serves as a reminder plastered in the movement for equitable treatment and protection in a fast evolving landscape.
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