International Workers’ Day: Honouring and Advocating for Women Workers

Image source: DNA

International Workers’ Day is celebrated annually on May 1st to honour the contributions of laborers and workers around the world. The day is also an opportunity to advocate for their rights and an end to exploitation. Women workers, in particular, have faced unique challenges in the labour force, including lower pay, discrimination, and inadequate protection. The labour movement that led to the establishment of International Workers’ Day began in America in 1886, when workers demanded an end to 15-hour workdays. In response, police opened fire on the workers, resulting in deaths and injuries. Three years later, in 1889, the International Socialist Conference decided to establish Labour Day on May 1st and to advocate for an eight-hour workday. In India, Labour Day was first celebrated on May 1, 1923, in Chennai, under the leadership of the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan. Today, women workers in India continue to face significant challenges, including sexual harassment and discrimination. Many organizations and social parties are working to raise awareness and advocate for their rights.

Re-reported from the story originally published in DNA