International Labour Day

About International Labour Day:

• International Labour Day, also known as Workers Day or May Day, is a global event that takes place annually on May 1st. 
• It is a day dedicated to honouring the efforts and achievements of workers and the labour movement.
• Over 80 countries, including India, Cuba, and China, mark International Labour day.
• On this day, people all over the world march to advocate working-class rights and protect them from exploitation.
• History:
  • The origins of International Labour Day can be traced back to the late 19th-century labour movement in the United States.
  • In 1886, a large demonstration happened in America where the labours demanded eight hours of work on a daily basis.
  • However, soon the demonstration went out of hand, and in Chicago, a lot of people got hurt. This incident came to be known as the Haymarket Affair.
  • The Haymarket Affair incident marked the start of International Labour Day.
  • In 1889, a lot of socialist parties in Europe came together and decided to celebrate May 1 as International Labour Day.
  • Since then, the special day has been observed every year on the same day.
  • In India, the first May Day was celebrated in Chennai (then Madras) in 1923 by the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan.

Key Facts about International Labour Organization (ILO):

• It is a specialized agency of the United Nations(UN) dedicated to improving labour conditions and living standards throughout the world.
• Established in 1919 by the Treaty of Versaillesas an affiliated agency of the League of Nations, the ILO became the first affiliated specialized agency of the UN in 1946.
• It is devoted to advancing opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security, and human dignity.
• Its main aims are to promote rights at work, encourage decent employment opportunities, enhance social protection, and strengthen dialogue in handling work-related issues.
• The ILO also provides technical assistancein social policy and administration and in workforce training; fosters cooperative organizations and rural industries; compiles labour statistics and conducts research on the social problems of international competition, unemployment and underemployment, labour and industrial relations, and technological change (including automation); and helps to protect the rights of international migrants and organized labour.
• In recognition of its activities, the ILO was awarded theNobel Prize for Peace in 1969.