View source for International Workers' Day

{{short description|Annual celebration of workers and the labour movement}}
{{about|the labour holiday|the traditional European spring holiday|May Day|other labour-related holidays|Labour Day (disambiguation)}}
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{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name  = International Workers' Day
| type          = International (95 countries)
| image         = 1.Mai 2013 (8697603319).jpg
| caption       = 2013 International Workers’ Day demonstration in Austria
| official_name = International Workers’ Day
| nickname      = [[Labour Day]]; May Day
| duration      = 1 day
| frequency     = Annual
| significance  = Commemorate the [[Haymarket affair]] in Chicago, 1886
| date          = 1 May, or First Monday in May
| celebrations  = Various, depending on the country; mostly [[parade]]s, [[marching|marches]], [[barbecue]]s
| relatedto     = {{hlist | [[Labor Day]] (United States) | [[Labour Day (Canada)]] | [[Labor Thanksgiving Day]] (Japan) }}
| firsttime     = 1 May 1890<br/>({{age in years and days|1890|5|1}})
}}

'''International Workers' Day''', also called '''Labour Day''' in some countries<ref name=GMGApr2008/> and often referred to as '''May Day''',<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rothman|first1=Lily|title=The Bloody Story of How May Day Became a Holiday for Workers|url=https://time.com/3836834/may-day-labor-history/|access-date=2 May 2017|magazine=Time|publisher=Time Magazine|date=1 May 2017|archive-date=28 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628180755/https://time.com/3836834/may-day-labor-history/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Grant|first1=Jordan|title=May 1st Day: America's traditional, radical, complicated holiday|url=http://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/may-day-americas-traditional-radical-complicated-holiday-part-1|website=The National Museum of American History|date=28 April 2016|access-date=2 May 2017|archive-date=1 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501211426/https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/may-day-americas-traditional-radical-complicated-holiday-part-1|url-status=live}}</ref> is a celebration of [[Wage labour|labourers]], the [[labour movement]] and the [[working class]] that is marked every year on 1 May,<ref>{{cite web|title=The Brief Origins of May Day|url=http://www.iww.org/history/library/misc/origins_of_mayday|work=IWW Historical Archives|publisher=Industrial Workers of the World|access-date=2 May 2014|archive-date=7 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107083753/https://www.iww.org/history/library/misc/origins_of_mayday|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Foner /> or the first Monday in May.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Penguin Encyclopedia |date=2004 |publisher=Penguin Books |page=860 |quote=Labour / Labor Day A day of celebration, public demonstrations, and parades by trade unions and labour organizations, held in many countries on 1 May or theheld in many countries on 1 May or the first Monday in May}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Labour Day 2024 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/events/happy-labour-day-2024-best-wishes-messages-quotes-whatsapp-and-facebook-status-to-share-on-may-day-labour-day-wishes/articleshow/109737799.cms |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=1 May 2024 |quote=International Workers' Day, which is also called Labour Day or May Day, is celebrated in many countries ... In India, Labour Day or May Day is celebrated on May 1 every year; while some countries mark this on the first Monday in May.}}</ref><!--see UK, Ireland, Australia-->

Traditionally, 1 May is the date of the European [[Spring (season)|spring]] festival of [[May Day]]. The [[International Workers Congresses of Paris, 1889|International Workers Congress]] held in Paris in 1889 established the [[Second International]] for labor, socialist, and Marxist parties. It adopted a resolution for a "great international demonstration" in support of working-class demands for the [[eight-hour day]]. The date was chosen by the [[American Federation of Labor]] to commemorate a general strike in the United States, which had begun on 1 May 1886 and culminated in the [[Haymarket affair]] on 4 May. The demonstration subsequently became a yearly event.<ref name=Foner /> The 1904 [[International Socialist Congress, Amsterdam 1904|Sixth Conference of the Second International]], called on "all Social Democratic Party organisations and trade unions of all countries to demonstrate energetically on the First of May for the legal establishment of the eight-hour day, for the class demands of the [[proletariat]], and for [[world peace|universal peace]]".<ref name=Lunacharsky />

The 1st of May, or first Monday in May, is a national [[public holiday]] in many countries, in most cases known as "International Workers' Day" or a similar name. Some countries celebrate a [[Labour Day]] on other dates significant to them, such as the [[United States]] and [[Canada]], which celebrate [[Labor Day]] on the first Monday of September.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-30|title=International Labour Day 2021: Theme, Quotes, History, Significance|url=https://news.jagatgururampalji.org/international-labor-day/|access-date=2021-04-30|website=S A NEWS|language=en-US|archive-date=21 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221112706/https://news.jagatgururampalji.org/international-labor-day/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1955, the [[Catholic Church]] dedicated 1 May to "[[Saint Joseph]] the Worker". Replacing another feast of St. Joseph, this date was chosen by [[Pope Pius XII]] in 1955 as a counterpoint to the communist International Workers' Day celebrations on May Day.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-04-23 |title=Saint Joseph {{!}} Biography, Holy Family, Tradition, Scripture, & Feast Day {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Joseph#ref1133736 |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref> Saint Joseph is the [[patron saint]] of workers and craftsmen, among others.<ref name=":3" /><ref name="Saint Joseph" />
{{TOC limit|3}}

==Origin==
Labor celebration days have existed in some European countries since the end of the 18th century<ref name="Ferrand">[[Franck Ferrand]], « L'histoire du 1er mai» on [http://www.europe1.fr/mediacenter/emissions/au-coeur-de-l-histoire/sons/l-integrale-l-histoire-du-1er-mai-1502275 ''europe1.fr''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430182634/http://www.europe1.fr/mediacenter/emissions/au-coeur-de-l-histoire/sons/l-integrale-l-histoire-du-1er-mai-1502275 |date=30 April 2018 }}, May 1st 2013.</ref> – sometimes on January 20th (France, 1793)<ref>See the [https://fr.wikisource.org/wiki/Rapport_sur_le_calendrier_r%C3%A9publicain|Rapport sur le calendrier républicain] on French Wikisource.</ref> or on June 5th (France, 1867).<ref>{{cite book |author1=Maurice Dommanget |date=1972 |page=368 |publisher=Éd. de la Tête de feuilles |title=Histoire du premier mai}}<!-- auto-translated from French by Module:CS1 translator -->.</ref>

On 21 April 1856, Australian [[stonemasons]] in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] undertook a mass stoppage as part of the [[Eight-hour day|eight-hour workday]] movement.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.monumentaustralia.org/themes/culture/social/display/32235-eight-hour-day-monument|title=Eight Hour Day Monument &#124; Monument Australia|website=www.monumentaustralia.org.au|access-date=3 May 2020|archive-date=13 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513124232/https://www.monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/culture/social/display/32235-eight-hour-day-monument|url-status=live}}</ref> It became a yearly commemoration, inspiring American workers to have their first stoppage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jacobinmag.com/2016/05/may-day-rosa-luxemburg-haymarket|title=What Are the Origins of May Day?|website=jacobinmag.com|access-date=6 April 2021|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411094528/https://jacobinmag.com/2016/05/may-day-rosa-luxemburg-haymarket/|url-status=live}}</ref> 1 May was chosen to be International Workers' Day to commemorate the 1886 [[Haymarket affair]] in [[Chicago]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://time.com/3836834/may-day-labor-history/ |title=The Bloody Story of How May Day Became a Holiday for Workers |last=Rothman |first=Lily |date=1 May 2017 |magazine=Time |language=en |access-date=18 March 2018 |archive-date=28 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628180755/https://time.com/3836834/may-day-labor-history/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In that year beginning on 1 May, there was a general strike for the eight-hour workday. On 4 May, the police acted to disperse a public assembly in support of the strike when an unidentified person threw a bomb. The police responded by firing on the workers. The event led to the deaths of seven police officers and at least four civilians; sixty police officers were injured, as were one hundred and fifteen civilians.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://portal.ugt.org/ugtpordentro/historia1demayo.htm#LOS+HECHOS|title=UGT: La Historia del 1º de Mayo|website=portal.ugt.org|access-date=3 May 2021|archive-date=21 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621040038/http://portal.ugt.org/ugtpordentro/historia1demayo.htm#LOS+HECHOS|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/571.html|title=Haymarket and May Day|website=www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org|access-date=3 May 2017|archive-date=7 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160707115804/http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/571.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Hundreds of labour leaders and sympathizers were later rounded-up and four were executed by hanging, after a trial that was seen as a [[miscarriage of justice]].<ref name='the bomb'>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagohistoryresources.org/dramas/act2/act2.htm |title=Act II: Let Your Tragedy Be Enacted Here |access-date=30 December 2017 |year=2000 |work=The Dramas of Haymarket |publisher=Chicago Historical Society |archive-date=21 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621035940/http://www.chicagohistoryresources.org/dramas/act2/act2.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>{{refn|group=nb|I saw a man, whom I afterwards identified as Fielding{{sic}}, standing on a truck wagon at the corner of what is known as Crane's Alley. I raised my baton and, in a loud voice, ordered them to disperse as peaceable citizens. I also called upon three persons in the crowd to assist in dispersing the mob. Fielding got down from the wagon, saying at the time, "We are peaceable," as he uttered the last word, I heard a terrible explosion behind where I was standing, followed almost instantly by an irregular volley of pistol shots in our front and from the sidewalk on the east side of the street, which was immediately followed by regular and well directed volleys from the police and which was kept up for several minutes. I then ordered the injured men brought to the stations and sent for surgeons to attend to their injuries. After receiving the necessary attention most of the injured officers were removed to the County Hospital and I highly appreciate the manner in which they were received by Warden McGarrigle who did all in his power to make them comfortable as possible.<ref name='William Ward, Capt. 3rd Prect report'>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagohistoryresources.org/hadc/manuscripts/m03/M03.htm#M03P060 |title=Letter from Captain William Ward to Inspector John Bonfield |access-date=30 December 2017 |last=Ward |first=William |date=24 May 1886 |work=Haymarket Affair Digital Collection |publisher=Chicago Historical Society |archive-date=21 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621041107/http://www.chicagohistoryresources.org/hadc/manuscripts/m03/M03.htm#M03P060 |url-status=live }}</ref>}} The following day on 5 May, in [[Milwaukee|Milwaukee, Wisconsin]], the [[Wisconsin National Guard|state militia]] fired on a crowd of strikers killing seven, including a schoolboy and a man feeding chickens in his yard.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wisconsinlaborhistory.org/resources/bay-view|title=Bay View Tragedy|date=6 November 2009|website=Wisconsin Labor History Society|language=en-US|access-date=11 May 2016|archive-date=2 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502041345/https://www.wisconsinlaborhistory.org/resources/bay-view/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Walter-crane-1889-solidiarty-of-labour.jpg|thumb|upright|1889 design by [[Walter Crane]] celebrating International Workers' Day]]
In 1889, the first [[International Workers Congresses of Paris, 1889|meeting]] of the [[Second International]] was held in [[Paris]], following a proposal by {{ill|Raymond Lavigne (syndicalist)|lt=Raymond Lavigne|fr|Raymond Lavigne (syndicaliste)}} that called for international demonstrations on the 1890 anniversary of the Chicago protests.<ref name=Foner>{{cite book |last=Foner |first=Philip S. |author-link=Philip S. Foner |title= May Day: A Short History of the International Workers' Holiday, 1886–1986 |url=https://archive.org/details/maydayshorthisto0000fone |url-access=registration |year=1986 |publisher=International Publishers |location=New York |isbn=978-0-7178-0624-9 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/maydayshorthisto0000fone/page/41 41–43] }}</ref> On 1 May 1890, demonstrations took place in the United States and most countries in Europe.<ref name="andy">{{cite journal |last1=McInerney |first1=Andy |title=May Day, The Worker's Day, born in the struggle for the eight-hour day |journal=The Constitution |date=June 2003 |volume=3 |issue=4 |pages=92–100 |url=https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA15955753_276 |access-date=26 April 2021 |archive-date=21 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621040015/https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA15955753_276 |url-status=live }}</ref> Demonstrations were also held in Chile and Peru.<ref name="andy" /> International Workers' Day was formally recognized as an annual event at the International's [[International Socialist Labor Congress of Brussels, 1891|second congress]] in 1891.<ref>{{cite book |last=Foner |first=Philip S. |author-link=Philip S. Foner |title= May Day: A Short History of the International Workers' Holiday, 1886–1986 |url=https://archive.org/details/maydayshorthisto0000fone |url-access=registration |year=1986 |publisher=International Publishers |location=New York |isbn=978-0-7178-0624-9 |page=[https://archive.org/details/maydayshorthisto0000fone/page/65 65] }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Hobsbawm |first1=Eric |author-link1=Eric Hobsbawm |title=Birth of a Holiday: The First of May - Eric Hobsbawm |url=https://libcom.org/history/birth-holiday-first-may |access-date=26 April 2021 |work=libcom.org |date=10 Jul 2009 |language=en |quote=In fact, the question was to be formally discussed at the Brussels International Socialist Congress of 1891, with the British and Germans opposing the French and Austrians on this point, and being outvoted. |archive-date=21 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210621040021/https://libcom.org/history/birth-holiday-first-may |url-status=live }}</ref> Subsequently, the [[May Day riots of 1894]] occurred. The [[International Socialist Congress, Amsterdam 1904]] called on "all [[Social Democratic Party]] organisations and [[trade union]]s of all countries to demonstrate energetically on the First of May for the legal establishment of the 8-hour day, for the class demands of the proletariat, and for universal peace."<ref name=Lunacharsky /> The congress made it "mandatory upon the [[proletarian]] organisations of all countries to stop work on 1 May, wherever it is possible without injury to the workers."<ref name=Lunacharsky>''From the diary of [[Anatoly Lunacharsky|Anatoly Vasilyevich Lunacharsky]]; 1 May 1918; Petrograd''</ref>

In the United States and Canada, a September holiday, called Labor or [[Labour Day]], was first proposed in the 1880s. In 1882, [[Matthew Maguire (labor activist)|Matthew Maguire]], a [[machinist]], first proposed a Labor Day holiday on the first Monday of September{{refn|group=nb|"In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed"<ref name="labordept">{{cite web |url= http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm |title= United States Department of Labor: The History of Labor Day |access-date= 2 September 2011 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110903051707/http://www.dol.gov/opa/aboutdol/laborday.htm |archive-date= 3 September 2011 |df= dmy-all }}</ref>}} while serving as secretary of the [[Central Labor Union]] (CLU) of New York.<ref name="labordept" /> Others argue that it was first proposed by [[Peter J. McGuire]] of the [[American Federation of Labor]] in May 1882,<ref name="Bridgemens1921">{{cite book|title=The Bridgemen's magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bIFIAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA443|access-date=4 September 2011|year=1921|publisher=International Association of Bridge. Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers|pages=443–44|archive-date=1 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501050929/https://books.google.com/books?id=bIFIAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA443|url-status=live}}</ref> after witnessing the annual [[Labour Day#Canada (country)|labour festival]] held in [[Toronto]], [[Canada]].<ref name="origins">{{cite web|url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/origins-of-labour-day-feature|title=The Canadian Encyclopedia: Origins of Labour Day|access-date=5 September 2011|archive-date=28 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028085442/http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/origins-of-labour-day-feature/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1887, [[Oregon]] was the first state of the United States to make it an official [[public holiday]]. By the time it became an official [[federal holiday]] in 1894, thirty [[US state]]s officially celebrated Labor Day.<ref name="Bridgemens1921" /> Thus by 1887 in North America, Labour Day was an established, official holiday but in September,<ref name="Knights of Labor">[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930082656/http://progressivehistorians.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2041 Knights of Labor]. Progressive Historians (3 September 2007).</ref> not on 1 May.

[[File:IICCR G005 May 1st rally in Bucharest.jpg|thumb|left|A 1 May rally in [[Bucharest]], [[Socialist Republic of Romania|Romania]], 1967]]

International Workers' Day has also been a focal point for [[Demonstration (protest)|demonstrations]] by various socialist, communist and anarchist groups since the Second International.  It is one of the most important holidays in communist countries such as [[China]], [[Vietnam]], [[Cuba]], [[Laos]], [[North Korea]], and the former [[Soviet Union]] countries. Celebrations in these countries typically feature elaborate workforce parades, including displays of military hardware and soldiers.

In 1955, the [[Catholic Church]] dedicated 1 May to "[[Saint Joseph]] the Worker". Saint Joseph is the [[patron saint]] of workers and craftsmen, among others.<ref name=":3">{{cite news |last1=Lori |first1=William E. |title=Celebrating St. Joseph the Worker - and all workers |url=https://catholicreview.org/celebrating-st-joseph-the-worker-and-all-workers/ |access-date=11 November 2021 |work=[[The Catholic Review]] |date=30 April 2021 |archive-date=13 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220513124231/https://catholicreview.org/celebrating-st-joseph-the-worker-and-all-workers/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name='Saint Joseph'>{{cite web|url=http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-joseph/|title=Saint Joseph|date=28 November 2008|access-date=5 July 2010|archive-date=7 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150307035229/http://saints.sqpn.com/saint-joseph/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Today, the majority of countries around the world celebrate a workers' day on 1 May.

===Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc under socialist governments===
[[File:RIAN archive 697507 May 1st demonstration in Moscow.jpg|thumb|upright|International Workers' Day rally in [[Moscow]], [[Soviet Union]], 1960]]
[[Eastern Bloc]] countries such as the Soviet Union and most countries of central and [[eastern Europe]] that were under the rule of [[Marxism–Leninism|Marxist–Leninist]] governments held official Workers' Day celebrations in every town and city, during which party leaders greeted the crowds. Workers carried banners with political slogans and many companies decorated their company cars. The biggest celebration of 1 May usually occurred in the capital of a particular socialist country and usually included a military display and the presence of the president and the secretary general of the party. During the [[Cold War]], International Workers' Day became the occasion for large [[military parade]]s in [[Red Square]] by the [[Soviet Union]] and attended by the top leaders of the [[Kremlin]], especially the [[Politburo of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union|Politburo]], atop [[Lenin's Mausoleum]]. It became an enduring symbol of that period. In [[Poland]], since 1982, party leaders led the official parades. In [[Hungary]], International Workers' Day was officially celebrated under the communist rule, and remains a public holiday. Traditionally, the day was marked by dancing around designated "May trees".<ref>{{cite web|date=30 April 2007|title=Mayday traditions and events in Hungary|url=http://www.caboodle.hu/nc/news/news_archive/single_page/article/11/mayday_tradi/?cHash=53dca10da6|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721104804/http://www.caboodle.hu/nc/news/news_archive/single_page/article/11/mayday_tradi/?cHash=53dca10da6|archive-date=21 July 2011|access-date=1 May 2011|publisher=Caboodle.hu}}</ref> Some factories in socialist countries were named in honour of International Workers' Day, such as [[1 Maja Coal Mine]] in {{lang|pl|Wodzisław Śląski|italic=no}}, Poland. In [[East Germany]], the holiday was officially known as ''{{lang|de|Internationaler Kampf- und Feiertag der Werktätigen für Frieden und Sozialismus}}'' ("International Day of the Struggle and Celebration of the Workers for Peace and Socialism"); similar names were used in other Eastern Bloc countries.

==By country==
[[File:Observance of International Workers' Day RGBY.svg|alt=|thumb|upright=1.4|Countries and dependencies coloured by observance of International Workers' Day or [[Labour Day]]:
{{legend|#dd3333|Labour Day falls or may fall on 1 May}}
{{legend|#ffcc33|Another public holiday on 1 May}}
{{legend|#00af89|No public holiday on 1 May, but Labour Day on a different date}}
{{legend|#cccccc|No public holiday on 1 May or Labour Day}}]]

===Africa===
====Algeria====
In [[Algeria]], 1 May is a public holiday celebrated as Worker's Day.<ref>{{cite web |title=Trade union leaders commend President of the Republic's decisions in favor of workers |url=https://www.aps.dz/en/economy/52068-trade-union-leaders-commend-president-of-the-republic-s-decisions-in-favor-of-workers |website=APS |access-date=1 May 2025 |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Practical information to go on holidays to Algier with Travel by Air France |url=https://www.airfrance.co.uk/travel-guide/algiers/practical-information |website=AirFrance |access-date=7 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=19 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220119091750/https://www.airfrance.co.uk/travel-guide/algiers/practical-information |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Angola====
1 May is recognized as public holiday in [[Angola]] and called Workers' Day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201305010715.html|title=Angola: World Marks International Workers' Day}}</ref>

====Egypt====
[[File:DSC 1498 (5676929076).jpg|thumb|Egyptian Communist Party flags in [[Tahrir Square]]]]
In [[Egypt]], 1 May is known as Labour Day and is considered a [[annual leave|paid holiday]]. The [[President of Egypt]] traditionally presides over the celebrations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sisi attends Labor Day celebration in Alex |url=http://sis.gov.eg/Story/139744/Sisi-attends-Labor-Day-celebration-in-Alex?lang=en-us |website=sis.gov.eg |access-date=8 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=12 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512010452/http://sis.gov.eg/Story/139744/Sisi-attends-Labor-Day-celebration-in-Alex?lang=en-us |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Ethiopia====

In [[Ethiopia]], 1 May is a public holiday and celebrated as Worker's Day.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ethiopia: Upholding Workers' Right to Unionization, Bargain |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201805010445.html |work=The Ethiopian Herald (Addis&nbsp;Ababa) |date=1 May 2018 |access-date=7 May 2019 |archive-date=14 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414212709/https://allafrica.com/stories/201805010445.html |url-status=live }}</ref> May day was most often celebrated under the previous government of the [[Derg]] and the [[People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia]].

====Ghana====
1 May is a holiday in [[Ghana]]. It is a day to celebrate all workers across the country. It is celebrated with a parade by trade unions and labour associations.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ghanatuc.org/mayday.html|title=May Day|website=ghanatuc.org|language=en|access-date=30 August 2018|archive-date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224182637/https://www.ghanatuc.org/mayday.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The parades are normally addressed by the Secretary General of the trade union congress and by regional secretaries in the regions.<ref name=":1" /> Workers from different workplaces through banners and T-shirts identify their companies.<ref name=":1" />

====Kenya====
In [[Kenya]], 1 May is a public holiday and celebrated as Labour Day. It is a big day addressed by the leaders of the workers' umbrella union body – the [[Central Organization of Trade Unions (Kenya)|Central Organisation of Trade Unions]] (COTU). The Cabinet Secretary in charge of Ministry of Labour and Social Protection (and occasionally the president) address the workers. Each year, the government approves (and increases) the [[minimum wage]] on Labour Day.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kwach |first1=Julie |title=History of Labour Day in Kenya |url=https://www.tuko.co.ke/270175-labour-day-history-kenya.html#270175 |access-date=6 May 2019 |work=Tuko.co.ke – Kenya news. |date=1 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=8 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308150905/https://www.tuko.co.ke/270175-labour-day-history-kenya.html#270175 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Libya====
In [[Libya]], International Workers' Day was declared a national public holiday by the [[National Transitional Council]] in 2012 the first year of the post-Qaddafi era.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120515081013/https://www.pm.gov.ly/news/621.html The transitional government on Tuesday announced a public holiday in all parts of Libya on the occasion of International Workers' Holiday]. The Libyan government transition – Prime Minister's Office (in Arabic).</ref> On 1 May 1978, then [[Libya]]n leader [[Muammar Gaddafi|Colonel Mu'ammar Al-Qaddafi]] addressed the nation in the capital city of [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]] calling for [[Administration (law)|administrative]] and also economic [[History of Libya under Muammar Gaddafi#Reforms (1977–1980)|reforms across Libya]].<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150512224852/http://mathaba.net/info/demindust.htm Address to the nation and call for reforms by Muammar Qaddafi, marking celebrations of International Workers' Day on 1 May 1982]}} Mathaba News Network – Archive: Democracy in Industry. Retrieved 1 May 2012.</ref>

====Mauritius====
In [[Mauritius]], 1 May is a public holiday celebrated as Labour Day. It was celebrated for the first time in Mauritius on 1 May 1938, and for the first time as an official public holiday on 1 May 1950. This was thanks largely to the efforts of Guy Rozemont, Dr. Maurice Curé, Pandit Sahadeo and Emmanuel Anquetil, as a day of special significance for Mauritian workers who for many years had struggled for their social, political and economic rights.<ref>''[http://www.mauritiustimes.com/mt/labour-day Labour Day] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425021501/http://www.mauritiustimes.com/mt/labour-day |date=25 April 2022 }}'' Mauritius Times article by TP Saran|</ref>

====Morocco====
In [[Morocco]], 1 May is recognized as a public holiday.<ref>{{cite web |title=Practical information to go on holiday to Marrakech – Travel by Air France |url=https://www.airfrance.co.uk/travel-guide/marrakech/practical-information#af-tbaf-content |website=AirFrance |language=en |access-date=7 May 2019 |archive-date=13 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213163040/https://www.airfrance.co.uk/travel-guide/marrakech/practical-information#af-tbaf-content |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Mozambique====
[[Mozambique]] celebrates International Workers' Day on 1 May.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mozambique: Workers March On May Day |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201805020824.html |access-date=8 May 2019 |work=Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique (Maputo) |date=2 May 2018 |archive-date=8 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508182815/https://allafrica.com/stories/201805020824.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Namibia====
1 May is recognized as public holiday in [[Namibia]] and celebrated as Workers' Day.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reporter |first1=New Era |title=May Day distress over Workers' Day |url=https://neweralive.na/posts/day-distress-workers-day |website=New Era Live |access-date=7 May 2019 |language=en-ZA |date=29 April 2014 |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507220406/https://neweralive.na/posts/day-distress-workers-day |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Nigeria====
Since 1981, 1 May is a public holiday in [[Nigeria]]. On the day, people gather while, traditionally, the president of the [[Nigeria Labour Congress]] and other politicians address workers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Iroanusi |first1=QueenEsther |title=May Day: APC, PDP, others felicitate with Nigerian workers |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/266752-may-day-apc-pdp-others-felicitate-with-nigerian-workers.html |date=1 May 2018 |access-date=7 May 2019 |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507201953/https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/266752-may-day-apc-pdp-others-felicitate-with-nigerian-workers.html |url-status=live |newspaper=[[Premium Times]]}}</ref>

====Somalia====
In [[Somalia]], 1 May is a public holiday and celebrated as Labour Day.<ref>{{cite web |title=Labour Day Statement issued by the Federation of Somali Trade Unions |url=http://www.festu.org/labour-day-statement-issued-by-the-federation-of-somali-trade-unions/ |website=FESTU |date=1 May 2019 |access-date=7 May 2019 |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507220623/http://www.festu.org/labour-day-statement-issued-by-the-federation-of-somali-trade-unions/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====South Africa====
In [[South Africa]], Workers' Day has been celebrated as a national public holiday on 1 May each year since 1995.<ref>{{cite news |title=Workers' Day 2019: A brief history |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/workers-day-2019-brief-history-1-may/ |access-date=9 May 2019 |work=The South African |date=1 May 2019 |archive-date=9 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509003438/https://www.thesouthafrican.com/workers-day-2019-brief-history-1-may/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Workers' Day started to get more attention by African workers in 1928, which saw thousands of workers in a mass march. In 1950, the [[South African Communist Party]] called for a strike on 1 May in response to the [[Suppression of Communism Act, 1950|Suppression of Communism Act]] declaring it illegal. Police violence caused the death of 18 people across Soweto. It has its origins within the historical struggles of workers and their trade unions internationally for solidarity between working people in their struggles to win fair employment standards and more importantly, to establish a culture of human and worker rights and to ensure that these are enshrined in international law and the national law.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Akwasi |first1=Tiffany |title=Why do we celebrate workers day South Africa 2019? |url=https://briefly.co.za/27711-why-celebrate-workers-day-south-africa-2019.html |work=Briefly |date=9 April 2019 |language=en |access-date=9 May 2019 |archive-date=9 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509002505/https://briefly.co.za/27711-why-celebrate-workers-day-south-africa-2019.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1986, the hundredth anniversary of the [[Haymarket affair]], the [[Congress of South African Trade Unions]] (COSATU) called for the government to establish an official holiday on 1 May. It also called for workers to stay home from work that day.<ref name=SABC>{{cite web |url=http://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/l-politics-sas-may-day/ |title=The Politics of SA's May Day |first=Nthakoana |last=Ngatane |date=1 May 2018 |publisher=[[SABC News]] |access-date=9 May 2019 |archive-date=9 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509064112/http://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/l-politics-sas-may-day/ |url-status=live }}</ref> COSATU was joined by a number of prominent anti-[[apartheid]] organizations, including the [[Internal resistance to apartheid#National Education Crisis Committee|National Education Crisis Committee]] and the [[United Democratic Front (South Africa)]].<ref name=SAHO>{{cite web |url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/history-may-day-south-africa |title=The History of May Day in South Africa |date=25 April 2012 |publisher=[[South African History Online]] |access-date=9 May 2019 |archive-date=9 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509003451/https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/history-may-day-south-africa |url-status=live }}</ref> The call was also supported by a number of organizations regarded as conservative, such as the [[African Teachers' Association of South Africa]], the [[National African Federated Chamber of Commerce]], and the Steel and Engineering Industries Federation of South Africa, an organization that represented employers in the metal industries.<ref name=SAHO/> More than 1,500,000 workers observed the call and stayed home, as did thousands of students, taxi drivers, vendors, shopkeepers, domestic workers, and self-employed people.<ref name=SAHO/> In the following years, 1 May became a popular, if not official, holiday.<ref name=SABC/> As a result of the killings on 1 May 1950 and the success of COSATU's call in 1986, 1 May became associated with resistance to the apartheid government. After its [[1994 South African general election|first universal election in 1994]], 1 May was adopted as a public holiday, celebrated for the first time in 1995.<ref name=SABC/> On its website, the city of [[Durban]] states that the holiday "celebrate[s] the role played by trade unions and other labour movements in the fight against South Africa's apartheid regime".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Government/mayor_council/City_Mayor/Mayor_Blog/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=102 |title=20th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Constitution |date=5 December 2016 |publisher=The Official Website of the [[Durban|eThekwini]] Municipality |access-date=9 May 2019 |archive-date=15 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200415043558/http://www.durban.gov.za/City_Government/mayor_council/City_Mayor/Mayor_Blog/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=102 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Tanzania====
In [[Tanzania]], it is a public holiday on 1 May and celebrated as Worker's Day.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tanzania: Magufuli Arrives for Labour Day Celebration |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201705010436.html |access-date=7 May 2019 |work=[[The Citizen (Tanzania)|The Citizen]] |first=Janeth |last=Joseph |archive-date=1 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501163555/http://allafrica.com/stories/201705010436.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Tunisia====
[[File:1st of May protest, Tunis, Tunisia.jpg|thumb|Labour Day rally in [[Tunis]], [[Tunisia]]]]

1 May is recognized as Labour Day in [[Tunisia]], and is a paid public holiday.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tunisia: Celebration in Tunis of Labour Day |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201305010643.html |access-date=8 May 2019}}</ref>

====Uganda====
In [[Uganda]], Labour Day is a public holiday on 1 May.<ref>{{cite news |title=As it happened: Labour Day celebrations in Agago |url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1499550/live-labour-day-celebrations |access-date=8 May 2019 |work=newvision.co.ug |archive-date=8 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508183246/https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1499550/live-labour-day-celebrations |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Zimbabwe====
1 May is recognized as a public holiday in [[Zimbabwe]] and called Workers' Day.<ref>{{cite news |title=Little to celebrate for Zimbabwe workers on Workers' Day |url=https://ewn.co.za/2019/05/01/little-to-celebrate-for-zimbabwe-workers-on-workers-day |access-date=8 May 2019 |work=ewn.co.za |language=en |archive-date=8 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508183441/https://ewn.co.za/2019/05/01/little-to-celebrate-for-zimbabwe-workers-on-workers-day |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Americas===

====Antigua and Barbuda====
In [[Antigua and Barbuda]], Labour Day is a public holiday on the first Monday in May.<ref>{{cite web |title=Antigua and Barbuda Public Holidays |url=https://ab.gov.ag/detail_page.php?page=4 |website=Government of Antigua and Barbuda |access-date=1 May 2024}}</ref>

====Argentina====
In [[Argentina]], Workers' Day is an official holiday on 1 May, and is frequently associated with labour unions. Celebrations related to labour are held including demonstrations in major cities. The first Workers' Day celebration was in 1890, when Argentinian unions organized several celebrations in [[Buenos Aires]] and other cities, at the same time that the international labour movement celebrated it for the first time.<ref name="ElHistoriador">[http://www.elhistoriador.com.ar/articulos/republica_liberal/primero_de_mayo_en_la_argentina.php "Primero de Mayo en la Argentina"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510074036/http://www.elhistoriador.com.ar/articulos/republica_liberal/primero_de_mayo_en_la_argentina.php |date=10 May 2012 }}. Elhistoriador.com.ar. Retrieved on 1 May 2013.</ref> In 1930, it was established as an official holiday by the [[Radical Civic Union]] president [[Hipólito Yrigoyen]]. The day became particularly significant during the worker-oriented government of [[Juan Domingo Perón]] (1946–55).<ref>[http://tradibajor.blogspot.de/2010/09/dia-del-trabajador.html Día del Trabajador y día de la Tradición: Dia del trabajador] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525140541/http://tradibajor.blogspot.de/2010/09/dia-del-trabajador.html |date=25 May 2013 }}. Tradibajor.blogspot.de. Retrieved on 1 May 2013.</ref> He permitted and endorsed national recognition of the holiday during his tenure in office.

====Barbados====

In [[Barbados]], International Workers' Day is a public holiday celebrated on 1 May.<ref>{{Cite web |title=May Day - Public Holiday |url=https://events.totallybarbados.com/barbados/detail/22/1714536000000 |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=events.totallybarbados.com |language=en-us}}</ref>

====Bolivia====
1 May is known as Labour Day and is a holiday.<ref>[http://www.la-razon.com/index.php?_url=/sociedad/Memoria-Bolivia-festejo-mayo-consolido_0_2262973734.html En Bolivia, el festejo del 1 de mayo se consolidó en 1907] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429051414/http://www.la-razon.com/index.php?_url=/sociedad/Memoria-Bolivia-festejo-mayo-consolido_0_2262973734.html |date=29 April 2017 }}. La Razón (1 May 2016). Retrieved on 1 May 2017.</ref> By custom, it is usually the day on which wage increases (e.g., the national minimum wage) and other labour improvements are announced by the Government. In recent years it was also the day chosen by the Bolivian government to announce the (re)nationalization of strategic sectors of the economy (e.g. hydrocarbons in 2006, telecommunications in 2008, electricity in 2010, etc.).

====Brazil====
In [[Brazil]], "Workers' Day" is an official holiday celebrated on 1 May, and unions commemorate it with day-long public events.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ebc.com.br/noticias/brasil/2013/04/dia-do-trabalho-conheca-como-surgiu-o-feriado-do-dia-1o-de-maio |title=Dia do Trabalhador: saiba como surgiu o feriado do dia 1° de maio |website=Empresa Brasileira de Comunicação |language=pt-br |first=Edgard |last=Matsuki |date=1 May 2014 |access-date=6 May 2020 |archive-date=19 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219130414/http://www.ebc.com.br/noticias/brasil/2013/04/dia-do-trabalho-conheca-como-surgiu-o-feriado-do-dia-1o-de-maio |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Canada====

In Canada, [[Labour Day]] is celebrated in September. In 1894, the government of Prime Minister [[John Sparrow David Thompson]] declared the first Monday in September as Canada's official Labour Day. Labor Day in the United States is on the same day.

International Workers' Day is however marked by unions and leftists on 1 May. It is an important day of trade union and community group protest in the province of [[Quebec]] (though not a provincial [[public holidays in Canada|statutory holiday]]). Celebration of the International Labour Day (or "International Workers' Day"; {{langx|fr|Journée internationale des travailleurs}}) in [[Montreal]] goes back to 1906, organized by the Mutual Aid circle. The tradition had a renaissance at the time of a mass strike in 1972. On the 1973 Labour Day, the first contemporary demonstration was organized by the major trade union confederations; over 30,000 trade unionists took part in this demonstration.  Further, it is the customary date on which the [[Minimum wage in Canada|minimum wage]] rises.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gouv.qc.ca/portail/quebec/pgs/commun/actualites/actualite/actualites_121219_salaire-minimum/?lang=en |title=Québec's minimum wage will exceed the $10 an hour mark on May 1, 2013 : Québec Portal |publisher=Gouv.qc.ca |access-date=17 December 2013 |archive-date=17 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217224653/http://gouv.qc.ca/portail/quebec/pgs/commun/actualites/actualite/actualites_121219_salaire-minimum/?lang=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

Since 2019, the Labour May Day Committee has organized the International Workers' Day march with a rally at [[Nathan Phillips Square]] on either May 1 or the closest Saturday.<ref>{{cite news |title=CBC Thousands march in Toronto on May Day to highlight issues impacting workers May 1, 2022 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-labour-day-may-2-2022-1.6437803 |access-date=August 24, 2025 |work=CBC News |date=May 1, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SAVE THE DATE: International Workers Day! |url=https://ofl.ca/event/international-workers-day2025/ |website=Ontario Federation of Labour |access-date=August 24, 2025}}</ref> The Mayworks Festival of Working People & the Arts has been held annually in Toronto since 1985 throughout the month of May.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mayworks Festival 2025 |url=https://mayworks.ca/2025-festival/ |website=Mayworks |date=19 February 2025 |publisher=Mayworks Festival}}</ref>

====Chile====

President General of the Army [[Carlos Ibáñez del Campo]] decreed 1 May a national holiday in 1931, in honour of the dignity of workers.<ref>[http://www.feriadoschilenos.cl/#DiaNacionalDelTrabajo Días Feriados en Chile (in Spanish)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225100219/http://www.feriadoschilenos.cl/#DiaNacionalDelTrabajo |date=25 December 2017 }}. feriadoschilenos.cl. Retrieved on 1 May 2013.</ref> All stores and public services must close for the entire day, and the major trade unions of Chile, represented in the national organization [[Workers' United Center of Chile]] (Central Unitaria de Trabajadores), organize rallies during the morning hours, with festivities and cookouts in the later part of the day, in all the major cities of Chile. During these rallies, representatives of the major left-wing political parties speak to the assemblies on the issues of the day concerning workers' rights.

====Colombia====
1 May has long been recognized as Labour Day and almost all workers respect it as a national holiday.<ref>{{cite news |title=El origen proletario del 1 de mayo |url=https://www.elespectador.com/noticias/cultura/el-origen-proletario-del-1-de-mayo-articulo-691763 |access-date=7 May 2019 |work=ELESPECTADOR.COM |date=30 April 2017 |language=ES |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507154225/https://www.elespectador.com/noticias/cultura/el-origen-proletario-del-1-de-mayo-articulo-691763 |url-status=live }}</ref> As in many other countries, it is common to see rallies by the trade unions in all over the main regional capitals of the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=Día Internacional del trabajo |url=http://colombiaaprende.edu.co/html/home/1592/article-159133.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202043803/http://www.colombiaaprende.edu.co/html/home/1592/article-159133.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 December 2008 |website=Colombia Aprende }}</ref>

====Costa Rica====
First celebrated in 1913,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pereda |first1=Otto |title=May 1st International Workers Day |url=https://thecostaricanews.com/may-1st-international-workers-day/ |website=The Costa Rica News |date=1 May 2018 |access-date=7 May 2019 |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507155840/https://thecostaricanews.com/may-1st-international-workers-day/ |url-status=live }}</ref> labor day is a public holiday, and at the same time an important day for government activities.  On this day, the [[President of Costa Rica]] gives a speech to the citizens and the [[legislature of Costa Rica]] about the duties that were undertaken through the previous year. The president of the legislature is also chosen by its members.<ref>{{cite news |title=Why May 1 is much more than Labor Day for Costa Rica's government |url=https://ticotimes.net/2015/05/01/why-may-1-is-much-more-than-labor-day-for-costa-ricas-government |work=The Tico Times Costa Rica |access-date=7 May 2019 |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707134046/https://ticotimes.net/2015/05/01/why-may-1-is-much-more-than-labor-day-for-costa-ricas-government |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Cuba====
This day is known as Labour Day in Cuba. People march in the streets, showing their support to the [[Communist Party of Cuba|Cuban Communist]] government and the [[Cuban Revolution]] during the whole morning.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Legon |first1=Elio Delgado |title=International Workers Day 2018 in Cuba |url=https://havanatimes.org/?p=132606 |website=Havana Times |date=1 May 2018 |access-date=7 May 2019 |archive-date=9 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509004837/https://www.havanatimes.org/?p=132606 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Dominica====
In [[Dominica]], Labour Day is a public holiday on the first Monday in May.<ref>{{cite web |title=Society of Dominica |url=https://www.commonwealthgovernance.org/countries/americas/dominica/society/ |website=Commonwealth Governance |access-date=1 May 2024}}</ref>

====Dominican Republic====
1 May is a national holiday known as Labour Day and celebrated by festivities.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Cameron |first=Sarah |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Dominican_Republic_Footprint_Focus_Guide/OMD9AgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Dominican+Republic%22+%22Labour+Day%22&pg=PA13&printsec=frontcover |title=Dominican Republic Footprint Focus Guide |date=2013-08-30 |publisher=Footprint Travel Guides |isbn=978-1-909268-30-2 |pages=13 |language=en}}</ref>

====Ecuador====
In Ecuador, 1 May is an official public holiday known as Labour Day. People do not go to work and spend time with their relatives or gather for demonstrations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ecuador.com {{!}} Ecuador Official, National and Public Holidays |url=https://www.ecuador.com/travel/about-ecuador/official-holidays/ |website=ecuador.com |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=16 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016030656/https://www.ecuador.com/travel/about-ecuador/official-holidays/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====El Salvador====
1 May is an official public holiday known as Labour Day.<ref>{{cite web |title=Holiday Calendar 2019 {{!}} U.S. Embassy in El Salvador |url=https://sv.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/ |website=U.S. Embassy in El Salvador |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=16 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016030308/https://sv.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Guatemala====
1 May is an official public holiday known as Labour Day.<ref>{{cite web |title=Holiday Calendar 2019 |url=https://gt.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/ |website=U.S. Embassy in Guatemala |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=16 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016030040/https://gt.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Haiti====
1 May is an official public holiday known as Agriculture and Labour Day.<ref>{{cite web |title=Holiday Calendar |url=https://ht.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/ |website=U.S. Embassy in Haiti |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=16 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016025647/https://ht.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Honduras====
1 May is an official holiday, known as "Labour Day" within Honduras.<ref>{{cite web |title=Holiday Calendar 2019 |url=https://hn.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/ |website=U.S. Embassy in Honduras |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=16 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016031054/https://hn.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Mexico====
1 May is a public holiday.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Publications |first=Europa |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/South_America_Central_America_and_the_Ca/kw5W8m87FpkC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Mexico+%22Labour+day%22&pg=PA537&printsec=frontcover |title=South America, Central America and the Caribbean 2003 |date=2002 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-85743-138-4 |pages=537 |language=en}}</ref>

====Panama====
1 May is an official public holiday, known as "Labour Day" within Panama.<ref>{{cite web |title=Holiday Calendar |url=https://pa.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116032502/https://pa.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 November 2018 |website=U.S. Embassy in Panama }}</ref>

====Paraguay====
1 May is an official public holiday, known as "Labour Day" within Paraguay.<ref>{{cite web |title=Holiday Calendar |url=https://py.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/ |website=U.S. Embassy in Paraguay |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=16 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016024952/https://py.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Peru====
1 May is an official public holiday, known as "Labour Day" within Peru.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kirsten |first1=Tim |title=Labor Day – Dia de los Trabajadores |url=https://www.perutelegraph.com/peru-information/peruvian-public-holidays-and-festivities/labor-day-dia-de-los-trabajadores |website=PeruTelegraph |language=en |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=16 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016024658/https://www.perutelegraph.com/peru-information/peruvian-public-holidays-and-festivities/labor-day-dia-de-los-trabajadores |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Saint Kitts and Nevis====
In [[Saint Kitts and Nevis]], Labour Day is a public holiday on the first Monday in May.<ref>{{cite web |title=Labour Day - first Monday in May |url=https://www.historicstkitts.kn/events/labour-day-first-monday-in-may-2 |website=Historic St Kitts |access-date=1 May 2024}}</ref>

====United States====
{{Main|Labor Day}}

[[File:Socialists in Union Square, N.Y.C. (cropped).jpg|thumb|Socialists in Union Square, New York City, on 1 May 1912]]
In the U.S. starting in 1887, a "Labor Day" celebrated on the first Monday in September was given increasing state recognition.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of Labor Day |access-date=August 22, 2025 |url=https://www.dol.gov/general/laborday/history |publisher=U.S. Department of Labor }}</ref> Then in 1894, in the wake of the nationwide [[Pullman Strike]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=McKeever |first=Amy |date=September 4, 2020 |title=Labor Day's surprisingly radical origins |url-status=dead |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/reference/holidays/history-labor-day/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907150911/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/reference/holidays/history-labor-day/ |archive-date=September 7, 2020 |website=National Geographic |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Jaffe |first=Sarah |author-link=Sarah Jaffe (journalist) |title=Op-Ed: How Labor Day sprang from state violence |date=September 5, 2016 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]  |url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-jaffe-labor-day-state-violence-20160905-snap-story.html |url-access=limited}}</ref> [[United States Congress|Congress]] and President [[Grover Cleveland]] passed a law declaring Labor Day a [[federal holiday]].<ref name="Knights of Labor"/>

Efforts to recognize 1 May as a holiday have not been successful.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-14 |title=California Assembly rejects bill allowing school districts to observe socialist holiday |url=https://www.ocregister.com/california-assembly-rejects-bill-allowing-school-districts-to-observe-socialist-holiday/ |access-date=2026-05-03 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1947, 1 May was established as [[Loyalty Day]] by the U.S. [[Veterans of Foreign Wars]] as a way to counter communist influence and recruitment at International Workers' Day rallies.<ref name=CredoLoyalty>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Loyalty Day|publisher=Omnigraphics, Inc.|location=Detroit, MI|year=2018|edition=6|isbn=9780780816190|editor=Jaikumar, Pearline|encyclopedia=Cultural Studies: Holidays Around the World}}</ref> Loyalty Day was celebrated across the country with patriotic parades and ceremonies, however the growing conflict over U.S. involvement in Vietnam detracted from the popularity of these celebrations.<ref name=CredoLoyalty /> In 1958, the [[American Bar Association]] campaigned to have 1 May designated as [[Law Day (United States)|Law Day]], which was acknowledged in 1961 by a joint resolution of Congress.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|title=Law Day|publisher=Omnigraphics, Inc.|location=Detroit, MI|year=2018|edition=6|isbn=9780780816190|editor=Jaikumar, Pearline|encyclopedia=Cultural Studies: Holidays Around the World}}</ref> Law Day exercises, such as mock trials and courthouse tours, are often sponsored by the American Bar Association.

Unions and Political organizations including [[American Left|anarchist groups and socialist and communist parties]] have kept the International Workers' Day tradition alive with rallies and demonstrations. In 1919 especially large demonstrations took place, and violence greeted the normally peaceful parades in [[Boston]], [[New York City|New York]], and [[Cleveland]] and [[May Day Riots of 1919|a number of people were killed]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Socialists' May Day Parade|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19340608.2.106.12?query=%22may%20day%22%20%22new%20york%22|access-date=2 May 2017|issue=134|publisher=Auckland Star|date=8 June 1934|archive-date=10 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010053332/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19340608.2.106.12?query=%22may%20day%22%20%22new%20york%22|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Chicago's Bombs|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19330503.2.72?query=%22may%20day%22%20%22new%20york%22|access-date=2 May 2017|volume=LXIV|issue=102|publisher=AUCKLAND STAR|date=3 May 1933|archive-date=10 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010054258/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19330503.2.72?query=%22may%20day%22%20%22new%20york%22|url-status=live}}</ref> In Milwaukee, an annual commemoration takes place at the site of the [[Bay View Massacre|killing of seven workers during a march for the 8-hour workday]].<ref name=":0" /> Some of the largest examples of this occurred during the [[Great Depression]] of the 1930s, when hundreds of thousands of workers marched in International Workers' Day [[parade]]s in New York's [[Union Square (New York City)|Union Square]], while cities like [[Chicago]] and [[Duluth, Minnesota|Duluth]] saw large demonstrations organized by the [[Communist Party USA|Communist Party]].

[[File:San Jose May Day 01.jpg|thumb|[[San Jose, California]], Workers' Day March, 1 May 2006]]
In 2006, 1 May was chosen by mostly [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]] [[immigrant]] groups in the United States as the day for the [[Great American Boycott]], a [[general strike]] of undocumented immigrant workers and supporters to protest [[Border Protection, Anti-terrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005|H.R. 4437]], immigration reform legislation that they felt was draconian.
From 10 April to 1 May of that year, immigrant families in the U.S. called for immigrant rights, workers' rights and amnesty for undocumented workers. They were joined by socialist and other leftist organizations on 1 May.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Heckman|first1=Candace|title=Protest du Jour: May Day is rally day in Seattle|url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2008/05/01/protest-du-jour-may-day-is-rally-day-in-seattle/|website=Seattle's Big Blog – Seattle P-I|publisher=Hearst Seattle Media|access-date=27 August 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918115528/http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2008/05/01/protest-du-jour-may-day-is-rally-day-in-seattle/|archive-date=18 September 2012|location=Seattle|language=en-us|date=1 May 2008|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-may-02-me-mayday2-story.html |title=March smaller, but festive |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2 May 2008 |access-date=1 May 2013 |archive-date=21 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521074439/http://articles.latimes.com/2008/may/02/local/me-mayday2 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 1 May 2007, a mostly peaceful demonstration in [[Los Angeles]] in support of undocumented immigrant workers ended with a widely televised [[Los Angeles May Day mêlée|dispersal by police officers]]. In March 2008, the [[International Longshore and Warehouse Union]] announced that [[stevedore|dockworkers]] will move no [[cargo]] at any [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] ports on 1 May 2008, as a protest against the continuation of the [[Iraq War]] and the diversion of resources from domestic needs.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Longshoremen-to-close-ports-on-West-Coast-to-3218746.php |title=Longshoremen to close ports on West Coast to protest war |first=Jack |last=Heyman |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date=9 April 2008 |access-date=11 May 2019 |archive-date=11 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511004045/https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/article/Longshoremen-to-close-ports-on-West-Coast-to-3218746.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 1 May 2012, members of [[Occupy Wall Street]] and labor unions held protests together in a number of cities in the United States and Canada to commemorate International Workers' Day and to protest the state of the economy and economic inequality.<ref>[http://maydaynyc.org/ May Day 2013 NYC {{!}} Another World is Possible] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526045605/http://maydaynyc.org/ |date=26 May 2012 }}. Maydaynyc.org (5 January 2013). Retrieved on 1 May 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.occupymay1st.org/ de beste bron van informatie over occupymay1st. Deze website is te koop!] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419080720/http://www.occupymay1st.org/ |date=19 April 2012 }}. occupymay1st.org. Retrieved on 1 May 2013.</ref>

[[File:International Workers Day march in Minneapolis (4570066628).jpg|thumbnail|upright=1|alt=refer to caption|An [[Industrial Workers of the World]] group marching in [[Minneapolis]] on 1 May 2010]]

On 1 May 2017, immigrants' rights advocates, labor unions and leftists held protests against the immigration and economic policies of President [[Donald Trump]] in cities throughout the US, Chicago and Los Angeles having some of the largest marches.<ref name="wapo-1may2017">{{cite news|last1=Peoples|first1=Steve|last2=Taxin|first2=Amy|title=Thousands of people in US rally for workers, against Trump|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/immigrants-unions-march-in-us-for-rights-against-trump/2017/05/01/ab76c332-2e26-11e7-a335-fa0ae1940305_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170501080015/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/immigrants-unions-march-in-us-for-rights-against-trump/2017/05/01/ab76c332-2e26-11e7-a335-fa0ae1940305_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 May 2017|access-date=1 May 2017|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=1 May 2017}}</ref><ref name="nytimes-1may2017">{{cite news|last1=Yee|first1=Vivian|title=On May Day, Protesters Take to the Streets Nationwide|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/01/us/may-day-loyalty-day-protests-trump.html|access-date=1 May 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|date=1 May 2017|archive-date=16 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216143927/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/01/us/may-day-loyalty-day-protests-trump.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 1 May 2020, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], "workers at [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]], [[Whole Foods Market|Whole Foods]], [[Instacart]], [[Walmart]], [[FedEx]], [[Target Corporation|Target]], and [[Shipt]] say they will walk off the job ... to protest their employers' failure to provide basic protections for frontline workers who are risking and losing their lives at work."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Amazon, Whole Foods, Instacart Workers Organize a Historic Mass Strike|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/amazon-whole-foods-instacart-workers-organize-a-historic-mass-strike/|last=Gurley|first=Lauren Kaori|date=29 April 2020|website=Vice|language=en|access-date=1 May 2020|archive-date=1 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501040234/https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/n7j8zw/amazon-whole-foods-instacart-workers-organize-a-historic-mass-strike|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, on the same day, there will be a [[rent strike]], the largest in nearly a century.<ref>{{Cite web|title=With Millions Unable to Pay for Housing Next Month, Organizers Plan the Largest Rent Strike in Nearly a Century|url=https://theintercept.com/2020/04/25/coronavirus-rent-strike-may/|last=Lennard|first=Natasha|date=25 April 2020|website=The Intercept|language=en-US|access-date=1 May 2020|archive-date=29 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429223955/https://theintercept.com/2020/04/25/coronavirus-rent-strike-may/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 1 May 2021, [[black bloc]] protesters clashed with police in Oakland and Portland. Numerous other activities occurred across the country.<ref name="Its Going Down">{{cite news|last1=|first1=|title=Anarchist And Autonomous Groups Hit Streets; Hold Public Events On May Day 2021|url=https://itsgoingdown.org/may-day-2021/|access-date=13 September 2021|newspaper=Its Going Down|date=3 May 2021|archive-date=13 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913202312/https://itsgoingdown.org/may-day-2021/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1 May 2026, May Day protests were held across the United States in support of workers’ rights, union protections, and public education funding. Labor unions, teachers, immigrant-rights organizations, and community groups organized rallies and marches in a number of cities. Some demonstrations were associated with the slogan “No School, No Work, No Shopping”, which promoted consumer and workplace boycotts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hirschfeld |first=Andy |title=May Day rallies sweep US, demanding reforms for working-class rights |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/5/1/may-day-rallies-sweep-us-demanding-reforms-for-working-class-rights |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-02 |title=Santa Cruz County hits the streets for May Day |url=https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2026/05/01/santa-cruz-county-hits-the-streets-for-may-day/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=Santa Cruz Sentinel |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What to Know About the May Day Protests Bringing Out Demonstrators Around the U.S. |url=https://time.com/article/2026/05/01/may-day-international-workers-day-protests-rallies-marches-us/}}</ref>

The protests focused on issues including wages, labor protections, economic inequality, and opposition to anti-union policies. Some reports also noted concerns over rising living costs and reduced purchasing power in the context of higher global energy prices and geopolitical tensions, including the [[2026 Iran war|Iran war]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=McMenamin |first=Lex |date=2026-05-01 |title=Thousands in US join ‘no school, no work, no shopping’ May Day protest and economic blackout |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/may/01/may-day-strong-economic-protests |access-date=2026-05-10 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dailyherald.com/20260501/news/the-real-labor-day-people-around-the-suburbs-rally-for-workers-rights-on-may-day/ |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=www.dailyherald.com|title=‘The real Labor Day’: People around the suburbs rally for workers’ rights on May Day}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Corbet |first=-Sylvie |last2=Corbet |first2=Associated Press Sylvie |last3=Press |first3=Associated |date=2026-05-01 |title=What to know about May Day as workers face rising costs due to Iran war |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/economy/what-to-know-about-may-day-as-workers-face-rising-costs-due-to-iran-war |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=PBS News |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=“No School, No Work, No Shopping”: Workers, Immigrants to Lead Thousands of May Day Protests |url=https://www.democracynow.org/2026/5/1/may_day_stacy_davisgates_pedro_trujillo |access-date=2026-05-10 |website=Democracy Now! |language=en}}</ref>

Protesters voiced opposition to a series of government policies and economic conditions that they argued systematically favored wealthy individuals while neglecting the working class. Central to their grievances was the perceived erosion of basic labor rights, including the difficulty or inability of federal employees to appeal wrongful dismissals—a consequence of policies that reclassified many workers as "at-will" employees. Demonstrators also expressed concern over repeated budget cuts to workplace safety programs, which they believed directly endangered the lives of public sector workers such as nurses and teachers. Additionally, protesters highlighted the stagnation of the federal minimum wage, which had remained unchanged at $7.25 per hour for more than fifteen years—a duration that, in their view, reflected a broader pattern of inattention to the worsening living standards of ordinary workers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hirschfeld |first=Andy |title=May Day rallies sweep US, demanding reforms for working-class rights |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/5/1/may-day-rallies-sweep-us-demanding-reforms-for-working-class-rights |access-date=2026-05-31 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref>

====Uruguay====
In Uruguay, 1 May – Workers' Day – is an official holiday. Even when it is associated with labour unions, almost all workers tend to respect it. Since the late 1990s, the main event takes place at the [[First of May Square, Montevideo|First of May Square]] in Montevideo.<ref>{{cite web |title=Plaza Primero de Mayo |url=https://municipioc.montevideo.gub.uy/node/69 |website=Municipio C |publisher=Gobierno de Montevideo |access-date=1 May 2025}}</ref>

====Venezuela====
In [[Venezuela]], Workers' Day ({{lang|es|El Día del Trabajador}}) is celebrated on 1 May since 1936, but from 1938 to 1945 it was held on 24 July, by an order of [[Eleazar López Contreras]]. However, [[Isaías Medina Angarita]] changed it back to 1 May in 1945.<ref>[http://www.magazine.com.ve/cultura/index.php?id=6897&idSec=13&accion=detalle Día del Trabajador en Venezuela – Magazine Digital] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903103604/http://www.magazine.com.ve/cultura/index.php?id=6897&idSec=13&accion=detalle |date=3 September 2012 }}. Magazine.com.ve (30 July 2007). Retrieved on 1 May 2013.</ref>

===East Asia===

==== Mainland China ====
[[File:1952-05 1952年5月五一劳动节.png|thumb|International Workers' Day celebration in Beijing on 1 May 1952]]
1 May is a statutory holiday in the [[China|People's Republic of China]]. It was a three-day holiday before 2008, but was only one day from 2008 onward.<ref>{{cite news |title=China scraps one of three Golden Week holidays |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/life-china-holidays-dc-idUKPEK14649920071216 |access-date=13 April 2022 |work=[[Reuters]] |date=16 December 2007 |archive-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413053106/https://www.reuters.com/article/life-china-holidays-dc-idUKPEK14649920071216 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=调与休：黄金周长假的变迁|trans-title=Reconcile and rest: the change of Golden Week vacation|url=http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2013/1127/c70731-23676181.html|date=2013-11-27|access-date=13 April 2022|language=Chinese|work=[[People's Daily]]|agency=[[Xinhua News Agency]]|quote=从2000年国庆放假开始，对国庆、春节和劳动节这三个节的休假时间进行了统一调整，移动节日前后的两个周末四天和法定假期三天集中休假，这样共计7天时间[……]2008年，五一法定假期从3天改为1天，意味着五一黄金周被取消。|trans-quote=Starting from the National Day holiday in 2000, the vacation time of the three festivals, National Day, Spring Festival and Labor Day, was adjusted, moving the two weekends before and after the holiday for four days and the legal holiday for three days to focus on vacation, so that a total of 7 days [...] In 2008, the May Day legal holiday was changed from 3 days to 1 day, meaning that the May Day Golden Week was cancelled.|archive-date=13 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413052529/http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2013/1127/c70731-23676181.html|url-status=live}}</ref> During a [[Golden Week (China)|Golden Week]], surrounding weekends are rescheduled so that workers have seven continuous days off before 2009 and four to five continuous days after 2018.<ref>{{cite news|date=2019-11-28|title="五一"假期延长至5天 解读黄金周背后的假如|trans-title="May Day" holiday extended to 5 days: Explaining the assumptions behind the Golden Week|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2019-11/28/c_1125283926.htm|language=Chinese|work=[[Xinhuanet]]|publisher=Chengdu Business News|quote=2020年则是在延续2019年“五一”休假安排的基础上，进一步拓展，通过调休再多增加了一天节日休假时间，从而形成了5天的“小长假”。|trans-quote=In 2020, on the basis of the continuation of the "May Day" vacation arrangement in 2019, it further expands by adding one more day of holiday vacation time through the transfer, thus forming a 5-day "mini vacation".|access-date=13 April 2022|archive-date=13 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413052532/http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2019-11/28/c_1125283926.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Hong Kong ====
In [[Hong Kong]], 1 May is known as Labour Day and has been considered a public holiday since 1999.<ref>{{cite news|date=2012-07-01|title=新闻背景：香港回归15年大事记|trans-title=News Background: Events in the 15 years since Hong Kong's return to China |url=https://www.chinanews.com/ga/2012/07-01/3998742.shtml|language=Chinese|publisher=[[China News Service]]|access-date=1 May 2024|archive-date=2 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702000613/http://www.chinanews.com/ga/2012/07-01/3998742.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=僱傭條例簡明指南 - 第四章：休息日、法定假日及有薪年假|last=香港勞工署|url=https://www.labour.gov.hk/tc/public/pdf/wcp/ConciseGuide/04.pdf|access-date=2022-04-30|archive-date=2022-01-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112065423/https://www.labour.gov.hk/tc/public/pdf/wcp/ConciseGuide/04.pdf}}</ref>

==== Macau ====
In [[Macau]], it is a public holiday and is officially known as {{lang|pt|Dia do Trabalhador}} ([[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] for "Workers' Day").<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 |url=https://www.gov.mo/pt/public-holidays/year-2023/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Portal do Governo da RAE de Macau |language=pt-PT |archive-date=1 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501123231/https://www.gov.mo/pt/public-holidays/year-2023/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Taiwan====
1 May is known as Labor Day in [[Taiwan]]. Originally, students and teachers did not have this day off.<ref>{{cite web |title=台灣國定假日與節日 – 2019年年曆 |url=https://holidays-calendar.net/calendar_zh_tw/taiwan_zh_tw.html |website=holidays-calendar.net |language=zh |access-date=27 November 2019 |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501163806/https://holidays-calendar.net/calendar_zh_tw/taiwan_zh_tw.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, Labor Day was later upgraded as a full national holiday and extends beyond workers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2025 |title=Taiwan legislature approves 5 public national holidays |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/6106534 |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=taiwannews.com.tw |language=en}}</ref>

====Japan====
[[File:NUGW May Day 2011.jpg|thumb|2011 [[National Trade Union Council (Japan)|National Trade Union Council (''Zenrokyo'')]] May Day march, Tokyo]]
{{See also|Labor Thanksgiving Day}}

International Workers' Day is not officially designated by the Japanese government as a national holiday, but as it lies between other national holidays, it is a day off work for the vast majority of Japanese workers. Many employers give it as a day off, and otherwise workers take it as "paid leave". 1 May occurs during "[[Golden Week (Japan)|Golden Week]]", together with 29 April ("[[Shōwa Day]]"), 3 May ("[[Constitution Memorial Day]]"), 4 May ("[[Greenery Day]]") and 5 May ("[[Kodomo no hi|Children's Day]]").<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2282.html |title=Golden Week |publisher=Japan-guide.com |date=13 May 2009 |access-date=5 February 2010 |archive-date=16 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016170859/http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2282.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Workers generally take the day off work not so much to join street rallies or labour union gatherings, but more to go on holiday for several consecutive days (in Japanese corporate culture, taking weekdays off for personal pleasure is widely frowned upon).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Beigel |first=Allan |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Past_Present_And_Future_Of_Psychiatry_Ix/UOGiCgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Japan+karoshi+%22day+off%22&pg=PA817&printsec=frontcover |title=Past, Present And Future Of Psychiatry - Ix World Congress Of Psychiatry (In 2 Volumes) |last2=Silva |first2=Jorge Alberto Costa E. |last3=Jr |first3=Juan J. Lopez-ibor |date=1994-09-27 |publisher=World Scientific |isbn=978-981-4663-32-8 |pages=817 |language=en}}</ref>

Some major labour unions organize rallies and demonstrations in [[Tokyo]],<ref>{{cite news |title=全労連メーデーもオンライン中継 「希望ある未来を切り開こう」 |trans-title=Zenroren also broadcast May Day live online: "Let's Create A Future Of Hope." |url=https://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/articles/-/557241 |access-date=13 April 2022 |work=[[Kyoto Shimbun]] |language=ja |archive-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413054404/https://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/articles/-/557241 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Osaka]], and [[Nagoya]].<ref>{{cite news |title=メーデー：大阪、名古屋でも集会 |trans-title=Rallies in Osaka and Nagoya |url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20170501/k00/00e/040/211000c |access-date=13 April 2022 |work=[[Mainichi Shimbun]] |language=ja |archive-date=13 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220413054256/https://mainichi.jp/articles/20170501/k00/00e/040/211000c |url-status=live }}</ref> Japan has a long history of labour activism and has had a communist and socialist party in the [[Japanese Diet|Diet]] since 1945. In 2008, the National Confederation of Trade Unions (''[[Zenrōren]]'') held a rally in [[Yoyogi Park]] attended by 44,000 participants.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Japan Press Weekly @JapanPress_wky |url=https://www.japan-press.co.jp/s/news/index.php?id=4792 |access-date=2026-05-03 |website=www.japan-press.co.jp}}</ref> In 2026, ''[[RENGO|Rengō]]'', the largest Japanese trade union, held its International Workers' Day rally on April 29th with the Prime Minister attending.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Takaichi Attends Rengo’s May Day Event in Apparent Attempt at Repairing Ties |url=https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20260430-325183/ |access-date=2026-05-03 |website=japannews.yomiuri.co.jp}}</ref>

====North Korea====
In the [[Democratic People's Republic of Korea]], 1 May is known as International Workers' Day, and is a public holiday. Celebrations, local meetings and rallies are held every year throughout the country to honor the holiday.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ah |first1=Seol Song |title=May Day in North Korea exposes new class divisions |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/02/may-day-north-korea-exposes-class-divisions |access-date=7 May 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=2 May 2014 |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507174339/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/02/may-day-north-korea-exposes-class-divisions |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Rungnado May Day Stadium]] in the capital of [[Pyongyang]] is named in honor of the holiday.

====South Korea====
In the [[Republic of Korea]], 1 May is known simply as "Workers' Day". It is a public holiday since 2026 by the [[s:ko:대한민국 근로자의날제정에관한법률|Designation of Workers' Day Act]].{{refn|group=nb|''5월 1일을 근로자의 날로 하고 이 날을 "근로기준법"에 의한 유급휴일로 한다.'' ("The first day of May each year shall be designated as Workers' Day, which shall be a paid holiday under the '[[Labor Standards Act (South Korea)|Labor Standards Act]]'.)"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://elaw.klri.re.kr/kor_service/lawView.do?hseq=40244&lang=ENG |title=Designation Of Workers' Day Act |website=Statutes of Republic of Korea |access-date=30 April 2023 |archive-date=1 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501050936/https://elaw.klri.re.kr/kor_service/lawView.do?hseq=40244&lang=ENG |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

===Europe===
====Albania====
Labour Day ({{langx|sq|Dita e punëtorëve}}) is an official holiday celebrated on 1 May and thus schools and most businesses are closed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Holiday Calendar |url=https://al.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/ |website=U.S. Embassy in Albania |access-date=17 October 2019 |archive-date=17 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017221544/https://al.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Armenia====
Labour Day ({{langx|hy|Աշխատանքի օր}}, {{lang|hy-Latn|ashxatanki or}}) is an official holiday celebrated on 1 May.<ref>{{cite web |title=Holiday Calendar |url=https://am.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/ |website=U.S. Embassy in Armenia |access-date=17 October 2019 |archive-date=17 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017233752/https://am.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Austria====
[[File:Wien - SPÖ-Maiaufmarsch (a).JPG|thumb|1st of May demonstration of the [[Social Democratic Party of Austria|SPÖ]] at Rathausplatz in [[Vienna]]]]
Labour Day ({{lang|de|Tag der Arbeit}}), officially called {{lang|de|Staatsfeiertag}} (state's holiday), is a [[public holidays in Austria|public holiday in Austria]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Melzer |first=Nora |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Labour_Law_in_Austria/pZ2vEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Labour+Day+Austria+holiday&pg=PT70&printsec=frontcover |title=Labour Law in Austria |date=2023-01-20 |publisher=Kluwer Law International B.V. |isbn=978-94-035-2596-9 |language=en}}</ref> Left parties, especially social democrats and democratic socialists organize celebrations with marches and speeches in all major cities.

====Belgium====
In Belgium, Labour Day ({{langx|nl|Dag van de Arbeid}}, {{lang|nl|Feest van de Arbeid}}, {{langx|fr|Journée des travailleurs}}, {{lang|fr|Fête du travail}}), is observed on 1 May and is an [[Public holidays in Belgium|official holiday]] since 1948.<ref>{{cite web |last1=BE |first1=Admin |title=Labour day: Why do we celebrate? |url=https://brussels-express.eu/labour-day-why-do-we-celebrate/ |website=Brussels Express |access-date=7 May 2019 |date=1 May 2018 |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507184628/https://brussels-express.eu/labour-day-why-do-we-celebrate/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Various socialist and communist organizations hold parades and other events in different cities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fête du travail {{!}} Dag van de Arbeid {{!}} |url=http://www.fetedutravail.be/ |website=Fête du travail {{!}} Dag van de Arbeid |access-date=7 May 2019 |language=fr-BE |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507184628/http://www.fetedutravail.be/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Bosnia and Herzegovina====
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1 and 2 May ([[Bosnian language|Bosnian]] and {{langx|sr-Latn|Prvi Maj}} / {{lang|sr-Cyrl|Први Mај}}, {{langx|hr|Prvi Svibanj}}) are an official holiday and day-off for public bodies<ref>{{Cite web |last=syzejna |date=2026-04-24 |title=Non-working Days in BiH on the International Labor Day |url=https://sarajevotimes.com/non-working-days-in-bih-on-the-international-labor-day/ |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Sarajevo Times |language=en-US}}</ref> and schools at the national level. Most people celebrate this holiday by visiting natural parks and resorts. Additionally, in some places public events are organized.

====Bulgaria====
Labour Day is one of the [[public holidays in Bulgaria]], where it is known as ''Labour Day and International Workers' Solidarity Day'' ({{langx|bg|Ден на труда и на международната работническа солидарност}}) and celebrated annually on 1 May.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.bg/bg/24|title=Народно събрание на Република България – Български официални празници|publisher=Parliament of Bulgaria|language=bg|access-date=28 April 2020|archive-date=27 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200427172928/https://parliament.bg/bg/24|url-status=live}}</ref> The first attempt to celebrate it was in 1890 by the Bulgarian Typographical Association. In 1939, Labour Day was declared an official holiday. Since 1945 the communist authorities in the [[People's Republic of Bulgaria]] began to celebrate the holiday every year. After the end of socialism in Bulgaria in 1989 Labour Day continues to be an official and public holiday, but state authorities are not committed to the organization of mass events.<ref>{{Cite web |last=staff |first=The Sofia Globe |date=2018-05-01 |title=May 1 Labour Day in Bulgaria: Socialists demand government’s resignation |url=https://sofiaglobe.com/2018/05/01/may-1-labour-day-in-bulgaria-socialists-demand-governments-resignation/ |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=The Sofia Globe |language=en-US}}</ref>

====Croatia====
In Croatia, 1 May is a national holiday, Labour Day. Many public events are organized and held all over the country where bean soup is given out to all people as a symbol of a real workers' dish. Red carnations are also handed out to symbolise the origin of the day. In [[Zagreb]], the capital, a major gathering is in [[Maksimir Park]], which is located in the east part of Zagreb. In Split, city on the coast, people go to Marjan, a park-forest at the western end of Split peninsula.<ref>{{cite web |title=Croatia Celebrates May Day |url=https://www.croatiaweek.com/croatia-celebrates-may-day/ |website=Croatia Week |date=May 2015 |access-date=7 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507182650/https://www.croatiaweek.com/croatia-celebrates-may-day/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Cyprus====
In Cyprus, 1 May ({{langx|el|Εργατική Πρωτομαγιά}}) is considered as an official Public Holiday (Labour Day). In general, all stores remain closed in public and private sector.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-04-25 |title=May 1 a public holiday, minister insists |url=https://cyprus-mail.com/2024/04/25/may-1-a-public-holiday-minister-insists |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=cyprus-mail.com |language=en}}</ref> The Labor Union and Syndicates celebrate with various festivals and events across the country.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-01 |title=Our View: Labour Day rhetoric ignores modern economic reality |url=https://cyprus-mail.com/2026/05/01/our-view-labour-day-rhetoric-ignores-modern-economic-reality |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=cyprus-mail.com |language=en}}</ref>

====Czech Republic====
In the Czech Republic, 1 May is an official and national holiday known as Labour Day ({{langx|cs|Svátek práce}}).<ref>{{cite web |title=RTE Customer's area – Public holidays in Europe |url=http://clients.rte-france.com/lang/an/visiteurs/vie/vie_jours_feries.jsp |website=clients.rte-france.com |access-date=7 May 2019 |archive-date=13 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813075923/https://clients.rte-france.com/lang/an/visiteurs/vie/vie_jours_feries.jsp |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Denmark====
In [[Denmark]], 1 May is not an official holiday, but a variety of individuals, mostly in the public sector, construction industry, and production industry, get a half or a whole day off. It was first celebrated in [[Copenhagen]] in 1890. The location of the first celebration, the [[Fælledparken]], still plays an important part today with speeches by politicians and trade unionists to mark the occasion. Many other events are also held around the country to commemorate the day.<ref>{{cite news |title=Labour Day: your guide to May 1st in Denmark |url=https://www.thelocal.dk/20190501/labour-day-in-denmark-why-is-it-so-special |access-date=7 May 2019 |work=thelocal.dk |date=1 May 2019 |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507052016/https://www.thelocal.dk/20190501/labour-day-in-denmark-why-is-it-so-special |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Estonia====
In [[Estonia]], 1 May is a public holiday and celebrated as part of May Day (Kevadpüha). It also coincides with Walpurgis Day (volbripäev).<ref>{{Cite web |last=ERR |first=Aili Vahtla, ERR News {{!}} |date=2024-04-30 |title=Tartu volber explained: Walpurgis the Estonian fraternity and sorority way |url=https://news.err.ee/1609322040/tartu-volber-explained-walpurgis-the-estonian-fraternity-and-sorority-way |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=ERR |language=en}}</ref>

====Finland====
[[File:Vappu2005kuvaPK.jpg|thumb|A Workers' Day rally in [[Helsinki]], Finland]]
In Finland, 1 May is an official and national holiday. It is mainly celebrated as a feast of students, and spring, called {{lang|fi|[[vappu]]}} or Walpurgis Night.<ref>{{cite web |title=Finland shows carnival colours on May Day |url=https://finland.fi/life-society/finland-shows-carnival-colours-on-may-day/ |website=thisisFINLAND |date=18 January 2015 |access-date=17 October 2019 |archive-date=13 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013181105/https://finland.fi/life-society/finland-shows-carnival-colours-on-may-day/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Finland also celebrates Workers' Day (officially: {{lang|fi|suomalaisen työn päivä}}, "day of Finnish labour") on the same day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Traditional Finnish celebrations and parties {{!}} Visit Finland |url=https://www.visitfinland.com/en/articles/traditional-finnish-celebrations-and-parties/ |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=www.visitfinland.com |language=en}}</ref>

====France====
[[File:Wpi france.jpg|thumb|Workers' Day demonstration in [[Lyon]], France]]
In France, 1 May is a public holiday called Workers' Day ({{langx|fr|Fête des Travailleurs}}). It is, in fact, the only day of the year when employees are legally obliged to be given leave, save professions that cannot be interrupted due to their nature (such as workers in hospitals and public transport).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.service-public.fr/actualites/00790.html |title=Fêtes légales et jours fériés|date=24 April 2012 |access-date=1 May 2012 |publisher=Government of France |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503210415/http://service-public.fr/actualites/00790.html |archive-date=3 May 2012 }}</ref> Demonstrations and marches are a Labour Day tradition in France, where trade unions organize parades in major cities to defend workers' rights.
It is also customary to offer a [[lily of the valley]] to friends or family. This custom dates back to 1561, when king [[Charles IX of France|Charles IX]], aged 10, waiting for his accession to the throne, gave a lily of the valley to all ladies present. Today, the fiscal administration exempts individuals and workers' organizations from any tax or administrative duties related to the sales of lilies of the valley, provided they are gathered from the wild, and not bought to be resold.

====Germany====
In April 1933, the recently installed [[Nazi Germany|Nazi government]] declared 1 May the "Day of National Work", an official state holiday, and announced that all celebrations were to be organized by the government. Any separate celebrations by [[Communist Party of Germany|Communists]], [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democrats]] or [[trade union|labour unions]] were banned.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Szejnmann |first=Claus-Christian W. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Nazism_in_Central_Germany/wexBEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=1933+Day+of+National+Work+separate+celebrations+banned&pg=PA160&printsec=frontcover |title=Nazism in Central Germany: The Brownshirts in 'Red' Saxony |date=1999-06-01 |publisher=Berghahn Books |isbn=978-1-80073-492-0 |pages=160 |language=en}}</ref> After [[World War II]], 1 May remained a state holiday in both [[East Germany|East]] and [[West Germany]]. In communist [[East Germany]], workers were ''de facto'' required to participate in large state-organized parades on International Workers' Day.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Johnson |first=Molly Wilkinson |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Training_Socialist_Citizens/pOT4arumP_YC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22East+Germany%22+%22International+Workers'+Day%22+parade+required&pg=PA74&printsec=frontcover |title=Training Socialist Citizens: Sports and the State in East Germany |date=2008 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-16957-9 |pages=74 |language=en}}</ref> Today in Germany it is simply called "Labour Day" ({{lang|de|Tag der Arbeit}}), and there are numerous demonstrations and celebrations by independent workers' organizations. Today, [[Berlin]] witnesses yearly demonstrations on Labour Day, the largest organised by labour unions, political parties, the [[far left]] and the leftist {{lang|de|[[Autonomism|Autonomen]]}}.

[[File:1. Mai 2013 in Hannover. Gute Arbeit. Sichere Rente. Soziales Europa. Umzug vom Freizeitheim Linden zum Klagesmarkt. Menschen und Aktivitäten (168).jpg|thumb|Labour Day rally in [[Hanover]], Germany, 1 May 2013]]
Since 1987, Labour Day has also become known for riots in some districts of Berlin. After police actions against radical leftists in that year's annual demonstrations, the [[Autonomism|Autonomen]] scattered and sought cover at the ongoing annual street fair in [[Kreuzberg]]. Three years prior to the [[reunification of Germany]], violent protests would only take place in the former [[West Berlin]]. The protesters began tipping over police cars, violently resisting arrest, and began building [[barricade]]s after the police withdrew due to the unforeseen resistance. Cars were set on fire, shops plundered and burned to the ground. The police eventually ended the riots the following night. These violent forms of protests by the radical left later increasingly involved participants without political motivation.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=April 2005|title=Geschichte des Kreuzberger 1. Mai|url=https://www.gegeninformationsbuero.de/mai/mai2005_zeitung.pdf|journal=Mai Zeitung|access-date=28 April 2020|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308003447/https://www.gegeninformationsbuero.de/mai/mai2005_zeitung.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Annual street fairs have proven an effective way to prevent riots, and Labour Day in 2005 and 2006 have been among the most peaceful known to Berlin in nearly 25 years. [[neo-Nazism|Neo-Nazis]] and other groups on the [[far right]], such as the [[National Democratic Party of Germany]], have used May Day to schedule public demonstrations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-03-01 |title=German top court hears plea to ban far-right NPD |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35695210 |access-date=2026-05-06 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Labour Day violence flared up again in 2010. After an approved far-right demonstration was blocked by leftists, a parade by an estimated 10,000 leftists and anarchists turned violent and resulted in an active response by the [[Berlin Police]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5529267,00.html |title=Police battle rioters in May Day clashes |work=[[Deutsche Welle]] |date=2 May 2010 |access-date=21 June 2010 |archive-date=6 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100506072353/http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5529267,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Greece====
In Greece, 1 May is an optional public holiday, but is treated by workers as a strike. The [[Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (Greece)|Ministry of Labour]] retains the right to classify it as an official public holiday on an annual basis, and it customarily does so.<ref>{{cite web |title=Celebrations and Public Holidays |url=http://www.eaed.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2415:2009-11-13-11-19-57&catid=244:-2009&Itemid=285 |publisher=IKA Review of Insurance and Labour Law |access-date=1 May 2013 |language=el |archive-date=25 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525141803/http://www.eaed.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2415:2009-11-13-11-19-57&catid=244:-2009&Itemid=285 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  The day is called {{lang|el-Latn|Ergatikí Proto-magiá}} ({{lang|el|Εργατική Πρωτομαγιά}}, {{abbr|lit.|literally}} "Workers' 1 May") and celebrations are marked by demonstrations in which left-wing political parties, anti-authority groups, and workers' unions participate.
On Workers' Day in 2010, there were major protests all over Greece, most notably [[Athens]] and [[Thessaloniki]], by many left, anarchist and communist supporters and some violent clashes with [[riot police]] who were sent out to contain the protesters. They opposed economic reforms, an end to job losses and wage cuts in the face of the government's proposals of massive public spending cuts. These reforms are to fall in line with the [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]]-[[European Union|EU]]-[[European Central Bank|ECB]] loan proposals, which demand that Greece liberalize its economy and cut its public spending and private sector wages, which many believe will decrease living standards.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8655711.stm | work=BBC News | title=Protesters confront Greek police | date=1 May 2010 | access-date=2 May 2010 | archive-date=7 May 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507104348/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/8655711.stm | url-status=live }}</ref>

====Hungary====
Hungary celebrates 1 May as a national holiday, Workers' Day ({{langx|hu|A munka ünnepe}}), with open-air festivities and fairs all over the country. Many towns raise May poles and festivals with various themes are organized around the holiday. Left-wing parties and trade unions hold public rallies commemorating Labour Day.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Hungary – Hungarians celebrate Labor Day |url=http://abouthungary.hu/news-in-brief/hungarians-celebrate-labor-day/ |website=abouthungary.hu |date=May 2019 |language=en |access-date=17 October 2019 |archive-date=11 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211005641/https://abouthungary.hu/news-in-brief/hungarians-celebrate-labor-day/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Iceland====
In Iceland, Labour Day ({{langx|is|Baráttudagur verkalýðsins}}) is a public holiday. The first demonstration for workers rights in Iceland occurred in 1923. A parade composed of trade unions and other groups marches through towns and cities across the country and speeches are delivered.<ref>{{citation|title=Schedule for May 1 Labour Day march and two rival meetings in downtown Reykjavík {{!}} However many stores nowadays are open and pay higher salaries to the workers instead on this day.}}</ref> However, some private businesses are open, mainly in the capital.<ref>{{cite web |title=Public holidays in Iceland : When are holidays in Iceland : Iceland Travel Guide |url=https://iceland.nordicvisitor.com/travel-guide/information/public-holidays/ |website=iceland.nordicvisitor.com |access-date=17 October 2019 |archive-date=17 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017230139/https://iceland.nordicvisitor.com/travel-guide/information/public-holidays/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Ireland====
[[File:May Day, Belfast, April 2011 (077).JPG|thumb|International Workers' Day parade in [[Belfast]], 2011]]
The [[Irish Congress of Trade Unions]] (ICTU) marks International Workers' Day with rallies in [[Belfast]] and [[Dublin]] and other events such as lectures, concerts and film screenings also take place around a wider International Workers' Day festival.<ref>{{cite web |title=Labour Day Celebrated in Dublin {{!}} Century Ireland |url=https://www.rte.ie/centuryireland/index.php/blog/labour-day-celebrated-in-dublin |website=rte.ie |access-date=17 October 2019 |archive-date=17 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017232136/https://www.rte.ie/centuryireland/index.php/blog/labour-day-celebrated-in-dublin |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Where to enjoy May Day in Northern Ireland this year! |url=https://www.belfasttimes.co.uk/where-to-enjoy-may-day-in-northern-ireland-this-year/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427115200/http://www.belfasttimes.co.uk/where-to-enjoy-may-day-in-northern-ireland-this-year/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 April 2016 |website=Belfast Times |date=27 April 2016 }}</ref> The first Monday in May has been a [[public holiday in the Republic of Ireland]] since 1994<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1993/si/91/made/en/print|title=S.I. No. 91/1993 – Holidays (Employees) Act, 1973 (Public Holiday) Regulations, 1993.|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=8 May 2018|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225122537/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1993/si/91/made/en/print|url-status=live}}</ref> and in Northern Ireland since 1978.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bt.com/|title=Fibre Broadband, TV Packages, BT Sport & Mobile Deals &#124; BT|website=www.bt.com|access-date=6 April 2021|archive-date=6 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406154822/https://www.bt.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the Republic the public holiday was demanded by the ICTU<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/archives/2015/0429/697515-may-day-why-not-a-holiday/|title=RTÉ Archives: May Day Why Not A Holiday?|date=29 April 2015|work=[[RTÉ.ie]]|access-date=8 May 2018|archive-date=8 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508185501/http://www.rte.ie/archives/2015/0429/697515-may-day-why-not-a-holiday/|url-status=live}}</ref> and proposed by the [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] in negotiating [[23rd Government of Ireland|its 1992–94 coalition government]] with [[Fianna Fáil]], and marked the centenary of the ICTU's predecessor, the [[Irish Trades Union Congress]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/dail1993070900061#N451 |quote=The Programme for a Partnership Government also committed the Government to appoint the first Monday in May to be a public holiday with effect from 1994, in recognition of the centenary of the foundation of the Irish Trades Union Congress. In deciding to introduce a new public holiday, the Government also took account of the fact ... that nine of our EC partners have a public holiday early in May. |title=Vote 44: An Chomhairle Ealaíon |last=Quinn |first=Ruairí |date=9 July 1993 |work=Dáil Éireann Debates |publisher=Oireachtas |pages=Vol.433 No.8 p.61 c.2084 |access-date=8 May 2018 |archive-date=8 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508185226/http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/dail1993070900061#N451 |url-status=live }}</ref> The public holiday has no official designation, as "Workers' Day" or otherwise.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/leave_and_holidays/public_holidays_in_ireland.html|title=Public holidays|date=20 March 2018|publisher=Citizens Information Board|access-date=8 May 2018|location=Dublin|archive-date=17 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101117072632/http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/employment_rights_and_conditions/leave_and_holidays/public_holidays_in_ireland.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2005, Labour's [[Ruairi Quinn]] condemned an alleged Fianna Fáil proposal to replace the May holiday with one on 24 April commemorating the [[1916 Rising]] as a slight to workers. The proposal was, in actuality, for an extra holiday – rather than a replacement.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/fianna-fail-denies-plan-to-axe-bank-holiday-226910.html|title=Fianna Fáil denies plan to axe bank holiday|date=24 October 2005|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=9 May 2018|archive-date=10 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510051336/https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/fianna-fail-denies-plan-to-axe-bank-holiday-226910.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Italy====
[[File:Rome concert 1-5-2007 crowd 2.jpg|thumb|right|Traditional 1 May Concert in St. John Lateran square, [[Rome]]]]
The first International Workers' Day celebration in [[Italy]] took place in 1890. Industrialists threatened to fire absent workers, so most industrial workers showed up to work. The event succeeded due to artisan and craft support.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kohn |first=Margaret |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Radical_Space/_pRlDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22Italy%22+%22International+Workers'+Day%22+1890&pg=PA57&printsec=frontcover |title=Radical Space: Building the House of the People |date=2018-08-06 |publisher=Cornell University Press |isbn=978-1-5017-3174-7 |pages=57 |language=en}}</ref> It was abolished under the [[Kingdom of Italy under Fascism (1922–1943)|Fascist regime]] and immediately restored after the [[Second World War]]. (During the fascist period, a "Holiday of the Italian Labour" ({{lang|it|Festa del lavoro italiano}}) was celebrated on 21 April, the date of {{lang|it|[[Natale di Roma]]}}, when [[Rome]] was allegedly founded.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Planet |first=Lonely |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Lonely_Planet_Rome/_QnBDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Holiday+21+April+Rome+founded&pg=PT437&printsec=frontcover |title=Lonely Planet Rome |last2=Garwood |first2=Duncan |last3=Averbuck |first3=Alexis |last4=Maxwell |first4=Virginia |date=2019-12-01 |publisher=Lonely Planet |isbn=978-1-78868-678-5 |language=en}}</ref>) In 1947, following an unexpected electoral victory of the [[Popular Democratic Front (Italy)|Popular Democratic Front]] in [[Sicily]], local secessionists and pro-USA mafia hitmen killed 14 and injured 27 firing machine guns at an International Workers' Day celebration in the [[Portella della Ginestra massacre|Portella della Ginestra Massacre]].
International Workers' Day is now an important celebration in Italy and is a national holiday regardless of what day of the week it falls. The {{lang|it|Concerto del Primo Maggio}} ("1st of May Concert"), organized by Italian labour unions in Rome in [[Porta San Giovanni (Rome)|Piazza di Porta San Giovanni]] has become an important event in recent years. Every year the concert is attended by a large audience of mostly young people and involves the participation of many famous bands and songwriters, lasting from 15:00 until midnight. The concert is usually broadcast live on [[Rai 3]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rai: In tv, alla radio e sul web un Primo Maggio per il lavoro |url=https://www.rai.it/ufficiostampa/articoli/2023/04/Rai-In-tv-alla-radio-e-sul-web-un-Primo-Maggio-per-il-lavoro-d87beb39-5021-4d5e-8075-b43f4170b871.html |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=RAI Ufficio Stampa |archive-date=7 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230707134500/https://www.rai.it/ufficiostampa/assets/template/us-articolo.html?ssiPath=/articoli/2023/04/Rai-In-tv-alla-radio-e-sul-web-un-Primo-Maggio-per-il-lavoro-d87beb39-5021-4d5e-8075-b43f4170b871-ssi.html |url-status=live }}</ref> A second big concert is organised in the city of [[Taranto]] and it is transmitted locally by [[TGR|TGR Apulia]].

====Lithuania====
In Lithuania, 1 May is an official public holiday celebrated as International Work Day ({{langx|lt|Tarptautinė darbo diena}}).<ref>{{cite web |title=Events, fiestas and entertainments in Lithuania |url=https://www.migration.lt/events-fiestas-and-entertainments-in-lithuania |website=migration.lt |access-date=17 October 2019 |archive-date=17 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017224807/https://www.migration.lt/events-fiestas-and-entertainments-in-lithuania |url-status=live }}</ref> Celebrations for workers' day were mandatory during the [[Occupation of the Baltic states|Soviet occupation]], and carry a negative connotation as a result today. As Lithuania [[act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania|restored its independence]] in 1990, Work Day lost its public holiday status, but regained it in 2001.<ref>{{cite web |title=May Day holiday returns to Lithuania |url=https://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/6353/ |website=baltictimes.com |access-date=17 October 2019 |archive-date=17 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017224920/https://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/6353/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Labour Day: how the celebrations look like in Vilnius? (PHOTO) |url=http://l24.lt/en/society/item/10157-labour-day-how-the-celebrations-look-like-in-vilnius |website=l24.lt |language=en-gb |access-date=17 October 2019 |archive-date=17 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017224759/http://l24.lt/en/society/item/10157-labour-day-how-the-celebrations-look-like-in-vilnius |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Latvia====
In Latvia, Labour Day is an official public holiday celebrated as Convocation of the Constituent Assembly of the Republic of Latvia, Labour Day.<ref>{{cite web |title=National Holidays |url=https://www.latvia.eu/history/national-holidays |website=[Latvia.eu] |language=en |date=3 February 2015 |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=4 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904025833/https://www.latvia.eu/history/national-holidays |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Luxembourg====
In Luxembourg, 1 May, called the {{lang|lb|Dag vun der Aarbecht}} ("Labour Day"), is a legal holiday traditionally associated with large demonstrations by trade unions in Luxembourg City and other cities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Labour Day in Luxembourg |url=https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/festivals-and-traditions/meekranz-labour-day.html |website=luxembourg.public.lu |language=en |access-date=18 April 2023 |archive-date=18 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418133005/https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/festivals-and-traditions/meekranz-labour-day.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Malta====
In Malta, 1 May is an official public holiday celebrated as "Workers' Day",<ref name="maltagov">{{cite web|url=https://gov.mt/en/About%20Malta/Public%20Holidays/Pages/Public-Holidays-in-MAlta.aspx|title=Public Holidays in Malta|year=2018|publisher=Government of Malta|access-date=9 May 2018|archive-date=1 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201144548/https://www.gov.mt/en/About%20Malta/Public%20Holidays/Pages/Public-Holidays-in-Malta.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> together with the [[religious feast]] of [[Saint Joseph|Saint Joseph the Worker]]. ([[Saint Joseph's Day]], 19 March, the saint's main feast, is also a public holiday in Malta).<ref name="maltagov"/> A [[Labour Party (Malta)|Labour]] mass meeting takes place on 1 May. [[Nationalist Party (Malta)|Nationalists]] celebrate [[2004 enlargement of the European Union|accession to the European Union]] on 1 May 2004.

====Montenegro====
In Montenegro, 1 May is an official public holiday and a day off work and a day out of school. It is the only official holiday from socialist times that is still officially celebrated.<ref>{{cite web |title=Holiday Calendar 2019 |url=https://me.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/ |website=U.S. Embassy in Montenegro |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=16 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016022730/https://me.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Netherlands====
In the Netherlands, 1 May or Labour Day ({{langx|nl|Dag van de Arbeid}}) is not an official holiday. This is due in part to its proximity to the national holiday, [[Koningsdag]], which was celebrated on the day before until 2013. Labour movements also did not see the need to agitate for an extra day off during the [[Post–World War II economic expansion|Post–World War II recovery efforts]]. [[Liberalism|Liberals]] who joined the [[Labour Party (Netherlands)|Labour Party]] in this same period also wanted to distance themselves from the [[Soviet Union]] because of [[Cold War]] sentiments.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|date=2019-05-01|title=Waarom 1 mei in Nederland maar geen vrije dag is|trans-title=Why 1 May isn't a day off in the Netherlands|url=https://www.ad.nl/ad-werkt/waarom-1-mei-in-nederland-maar-geen-vrije-dag-is~a52f4967/|access-date=2021-01-03|website=[[Algemeen Dagblad]]|language=nl|archive-date=7 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707094222/https://www.ad.nl/ad-werkt/waarom-1-mei-in-nederland-maar-geen-vrije-dag-is~a52f4967/|url-status=dead}}</ref> A small number of public servants has the day off, as well as bank employees and financial traders as the European banking system is not open that day.

====North Macedonia====
[[File:Prvomajska proslava vo Skopje, 1909.jpg|thumb|right|First Workers' Day celebration of the [[North Macedonia under the Ottoman Empire|Ottoman period]] in [[Skopje]], 1909]]

In North Macedonia, 1 May ({{langx|mk|Ден на Трудот}}, {{lang|mk-Latn|Den na Trudot}}) is an official public holiday. Before 2007, 2 may was also a public holiday. People celebrate with friends and family at traditional picnics across the country, accompanied by the usual outdoor games, various grilled meats and beverages. Left organizations and some trade unions organize protests on 1 May.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dmwc.org.mk/2017/04/30/international-workers-day-1st-of-may-in-macedonia/|title=International Workers' Day, 1st of May in Macedonia • Dobredojde Macedonia Welcome Centre|date=30 April 2017|access-date=16 October 2019|archive-date=16 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016024045/https://www.dmwc.org.mk/2017/04/30/international-workers-day-1st-of-may-in-macedonia/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Norway====
[[File:Jens stoltenberg1.jpg|thumb|Norway's then Prime Minister [[Jens Stoltenberg]] gives his 1 May speech in 2009 in [[Oslo]], Norway.]]

In Norway, Labour Day ({{langx|no|Arbeidernes Dag}}) is celebrated 1 May and has been an official public holiday since 1947.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://snl.no/F%C3%B8rste_mai|title=Første mai|first1=Åsmund Borgen|last1=Gjerde|first2=Bjørn|last2=Thingsaker|work=Store norske leksikon |date=2 May 2021|access-date=3 May 2021|archive-date=4 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504175939/https://snl.no/F%C3%B8rste_mai|url-status=live|language    = Norwegian}}</ref> It was first introduced by the workers movement in 1890,<ref>{{cite book |last=Terjesen|first=Einar A.|date=1990|title=Maidagen : 1. mai-feiringens historie i Norge|url=https://www.nb.no/maken/item/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2007112200072/open|trans-title=May Day: The history of the celebration of the 1st of May in Norway|language=Norwegian|location=Norway|publisher=Tiden Norsk Forlag|page=29|isbn=8210032895|access-date=1 May 2025}}</ref> and recognized as an official flag day in 1935.<ref>{{cite book |last=Terjesen|first=Einar A.|date=1990|title=Maidagen : 1. mai-feiringens historie i Norge|url=https://www.nb.no/maken/item/URN:NBN:no-nb_digibok_2007112200072/open|trans-title=May Day: The history of the celebration of the 1st of May in Norway|language=Norwegian|location=Norway|publisher=Tiden Norsk Forlag|pages=104–105|isbn=8210032895|access-date=1 May 2025}}</ref> The program for the day is presented by local unions and labour organizations.

====Poland====
[[File:Wodzisław KWK 1 Maja.JPG|thumb|[[1 Maja Coal Mine|1 May Coal Mine]] in Wodzisław Śląski, Poland]]
In Poland, since the fall of communism, 1 May is officially celebrated as [[Public holidays in Poland|Labour Day]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.anglopolish.com/index.php/en/archive/29-polish-tradition/155-international-workers-day-may-day | title=May Day in Poland | access-date=1 May 2013 | url-status=usurped | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815142641/http://anglopolish.com/index.php/en/archive/29-polish-tradition/155-international-workers-day-may-day | archive-date=15 August 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://goeasteurope.about.com/od/poland/tp/polandholidays.htm | title=Poland's Holidays | access-date=1 May 2013 | archive-date=13 May 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513050301/http://goeasteurope.about.com/od/poland/tp/polandholidays.htm | url-status=dead }}</ref> It is customary for labour activists to organize parades in cities and towns across Poland. The holiday is also commonly referred to as "Labour Day" ({{langx|pl|Święto Pracy}}).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoffman |first=Steven |date=May 2, 2018 |title=Poland’s Complex Relationship with Labor Day |url=https://www.krakowpost.com/19012/2018/05/polands-complex-relationship-with-labor-day |website=The Krakow Post}}</ref>

In Poland, Labour Day is closely followed by [[May 3rd Constitution Day]]. These two dates combined often result in a [[long weekend]] called {{lang|pl|Majówka}}, which may last for up to 9 days from 28 April to 6 May, at the cost of taking only 3 days off. People often travel, and {{lang|pl|Majówka}} is unofficially considered the start of barbecuing season in Poland.<ref>{{Cite web |last=S.A |first=Telewizja Polska |title=Experts warn against excessive alcohol consumption in Poland |url=https://tvpworld.com/77220532/poland-experts-warn-of-excessive-alcohol-consumption-as-may-holidays-near |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=tvpworld.com |language=en}}</ref>

Between these two, on 2 May, there is a patriotic holiday, the Day of the Polish Flag ({{lang|pl|[[:pl:Dzień Flagi Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej|Dzień Flagi Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej]]}}), introduced by a parliamentary act of 20 February 2004. The day, however, does not force paid time off.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Poland’s Day of the Flag - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Poland - Gov.pl website |url=https://www.gov.pl/web/diplomacy/polands-day-of-the-flag |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Poland |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In Soviet times, streets, places, squares, parks and also factories were frequently named in honor of International Workers' Day, such as [[1 Maja Coal Mine]] in {{lang|pl|[[Wodzisław Śląski]]|italic=no}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Eckart |first=Karl |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Social_Economic_and_Cultural_Aspects_in/2DIRP6TYRXgC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=1+Maja+Coal+Mine+Wodzis%C5%82aw+%C5%9Al%C4%85ski&pg=PA168&printsec=frontcover |title=Social, Economic and Cultural Aspects in the Dynamic Changing Process of Old Industrial Regions: Ruhr District (Germany), Upper Silesia (Poland), Ostrava Region (Czech Republic) |date=2003 |publisher=LIT Verlag Münster |isbn=978-3-8258-6784-3 |pages=168 |language=en}}</ref>.

====Portugal====
In Portugal, Workers' Day ({{langx|pt|Dia do Trabalhador}}) on 1 May was suppressed during the [[Estado Novo (Portugal)|Estado Novo]] dictatorship. The first workers' day demonstration was held a week after the [[Carnation Revolution]] of 25 April 1974. It is still the largest demonstration in the history of Portugal. It is used as an opportunity for workers and workers' groups to voice their discontent over working conditions in demonstrations across Portugal, the largest being held in Lisbon. It is an official public holiday.<ref>{{cite web |title=Why is May 1st a holiday in Portugal? |url=https://algarvedailynews.com/news/11578-why-is-may-1st-a-holiday-in-portugal |website=algarvedailynews.com |date=30 April 2019 |access-date=16 October 2019 |language=en-gb |archive-date=16 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016005520/https://algarvedailynews.com/news/11578-why-is-may-1st-a-holiday-in-portugal |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Romania====
[[File:002 State and party leaders celebrating May 1.jpg|thumb|Delegates of the [[Romanian Communist Party]] on 1 May 1965]]
In Romania, 1 May, known as the "International Labour Day" ({{langx|ro|Ziua internațională a muncii}}), the "International Workers' Day" ({{lang|ro|Ziua internațională a muncitorilor}}), or simply "1/First of May" ({{lang|ro|1/Întâi Mai}}),  is an official [[public holidays in Romania|public holiday]]. During the [[Communist Romania|communist regime]], like in all former Eastern Bloc countries, the day was marked by large state-organized parades in most towns and cities. After the [[Romanian Revolution of 1989]], 1 May continues to be an official public holiday, but without any state organized events or parades. Most people celebrate together with friends and family, organising [[picnic]]s and [[barbecue]]s. It is also the first day of the year when people, especially those from the southeastern part of the country including the capital [[Bucharest]], go to spend the day in one of the [[Romanian Black Sea resorts]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-07-14 |title=Summer special: Seaside resorts in Romania |url=https://www.romania-insider.com/summer-special-seaside-resorts-in-romania |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=Romania Insider |language=en}}</ref>

====Russia====
[[File:Колонна РКРП-РПК на первомайской демонстрации.jpg|thumb|[[Russian Communist Workers' Party of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union|Russian Communist Workers' Party]] demonstration on 1 May 2008 in [[Izhevsk]]]]
In [[Russia]], the "Day of International Workers Solidarity, the 1st of May" ({{Langx|ru|День международной солидарности трудящихся Первое ма́я}}) was celebrated illegally in the country until the [[February Revolution]] enabled the first legal celebration in 1917. The following year, after the [[Bolshevik]] [[October Revolution|seizure of power]], the International Workers' Day celebrations were boycotted by [[Mensheviks]], [[Left Socialist Revolutionaries]] and [[anarchism in Russia|anarchists]]. It became an important official holiday of the Soviet Union, celebrated with elaborate popular parade in the centre of the major cities. The biggest celebration was traditionally organized in [[Red Square]], where the [[General Secretary of the CPSU]] and other party and government leaders stood atop [[Lenin's Mausoleum]] and waved to the crowds. The holiday was marked by [[military parade]]s in [[Red Square]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Murrell |first=Kathleen |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/DK_Eyewitness_Books_Russia/d_iaB_5u59oC?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=1+May+1969+military+parades+Russia&pg=PA57&printsec=frontcover |title=DK Eyewitness Books: Russia: Discover the Turbulent Past of This Vast Land—from Empire and Communist Superpower to Today's Federation |date=2000-05-31 |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-7566-6809-9 |pages=57 |language=en}}</ref> The following was the order of the march past:

* Parade commander holding the appointment of commanding officer of the [[Moscow Military District]]
* Corps of Drums of the [[Moscow Military Music College]]
* [[Frunze Military Academy]]
* [[Lenin Military-Political Academy|V.I. Lenin Military Political Academy]]
* [[Felix Dzerzhinsky Artillery Academy]]
* [[Malinovsky Military Armored Forces Academy|Military Armored Forces Academy Marshal Rodion Malinovsky]]
* Military Engineering Academy
* [[NBC Protection Military Academy|Military Academy of Chemical Defense and Control]]
* Yuri [[Gagarin Air Force Academy]]
* Prof. Nikolai [[Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy]]
* Delegation of naval officer cadets from the [[Soviet Navy]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://history.ric.mil.ru/Stati/item/117649/|title=ПО БРУСЧАТКЕ КРАСНОЙ ПЛОЩАДИ|website=history.ric.mil.ru|access-date=31 July 2020|archive-date=21 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721194046/http://history.ric.mil.ru/Stati/item/117649/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[98th Guards Airborne Division]]
* [[Moscow Border Institute of the FSB of the Russian Federation|Moscow Border Guards Institute of the Border Defence Forces of the KGB "Moscow City Council"]]
* [[Separate Operational Purpose Division]]
* [[336th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade|336th Marine Brigade]] of the [[Baltic Fleet]]
* [[Suvorov Military School]] and [[Nakhimov Naval School]]s
* [[Moscow Higher Military Command School|Moscow Military Combined Arms Command Training School "Supreme Soviet of the Russian SFSR"]]
* Mobile Column
** [[2nd Guards Motor Rifle Division]]
** 4th Guards Tank Division
** Missile Troops and Artillery of the Moscow Military District
** 1st Aerospace Defense Army
** [[Northern Fleet]] and [[Baltic Fleet]] Coastal Defense, Surface and Submarine Forces (until 1974)
* [[Military Band Service of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union|Massed Bands of the Moscow Military District]] (parade finale)

The first of these parades were held [[1918 May 1 Parade|1918]], when [[Vladimir Lenin]] presided over a ceremony at [[Khodynka Field]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cont.ws/@staromodnyiej/932301|title=1 мая 1918 г. на Ходынском поле состоялся первый военный парад Красной Армии – Старомодница – КОНТ|website=cont.ws|access-date=31 July 2020|archive-date=7 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807102341/https://cont.ws/@staromodnyiej/932301|url-status=live}}</ref> Notable parades included the parade of 1941 (which saw the presence of a [[Wehrmacht]] delegation led by [[Ernst August Köstring]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ройбу|first=Зиновий|date=2010-04-30|title=1 Мая 1941 года в Москве: до начала Великой Отечественной войны оставался только 51 день|url=https://ava.md/2010/04/30/1-maya-1941-goda-v-moskve-do-nachala-velikoy/|access-date=2020-07-31|website=AVA.MD|language=ru|archive-date=7 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807102628/https://ava.md/2010/04/30/1-maya-1941-goda-v-moskve-do-nachala-velikoy/|url-status=live}}</ref>) and 1963 (where Cuban leader [[Fidel Castro]] was a guest). The only parades on 1 May to be cancelled were the parades scheduled during the years of the [[Second World War]] and the 1965 parade (this was cancelled to make way for the [[1965 Moscow Victory Day Parade]] nine days later). In 1979, ten years after the last annual parade, a brief [[exhibition drill]] and [[military tattoo]] of the forces of the Moscow Garrison took place.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtwHowkf0y4|title=Демонстрация 1 мая 1979 года|date=22 September 2019|publisher= ПравДа.Ру(б)|via=www.youtube.com|access-date=6 April 2021|archive-date=16 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416175707/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtwHowkf0y4|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1991, which preceded the last year that demonstrations were held in Red Square, International Workers' Day grew into high-spirited political action. Around 50,000 people participated in a rally in Red Square in 1991 after which the tradition was interrupted for 13 years. In the early post-Soviet period the holiday turned into massive political gatherings of supporters of radically minded politicians. For instance, an action dubbed as "a rally of communist-oriented organisations" was held in Red Square in 1992. The rally began with performance of the Soviet Union anthem and raising the [[Red flag (politics)|Red Flag]] and ended with appeals from the leader of opposition movement Working Moscow, [[Viktor Anpilov]], "for early dismissal of President [[Boris Yeltsin]], ousting [[Moscow Mayor]] [[Gavriil Kharitonovich Popov|Gavriil Popov]] from power and putting the latter on trial". Since 1992, International Workers' Day is officially called "Spring and Labor Day", and remains a major holiday in present-day Russia.

[[File:anarchistsmayday2010moscow.JPG|thumb|250px|Labour Day 2010 in [[Moscow]]: anarchist demonstration]]
[[File:Верной дорогой идёте, товарищи!.JPG|thumb|250px|Labour Day 2009 in [[Severodvinsk]]: red flags and social slogans visible]]
[[File:Колонна демократических левых на первомайском шествии 2011 года в Москве.jpg|thumb|250px|Column of "democratic left" at the 2011 Labor Day march in Moscow: LevSD, [[Committee for a Workers' International (1974)|Committee for a Workers' International]], [[LGBT]], feminists]]

In 1993, a Moscow Labor Day rally followed by a procession organized by the [[National Salvation Front (Russia)|National Salvation Front]], Labor Moscow, and the [[Communist Party of the Russian Federation]] turned into clashes between demonstrators and riot police near houses 30 and 37 along [[Leninsky Avenue, Moscow|Leninsky Avenue]].<ref name=memo93>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161214005538/http://www.memo.ru/hr/hotpoints/moscow93/may93.htm Предварительный отчёт о массовых беспорядках, имевших место в Москве 1 мая 1993 года.] // [[Memorial (society)|Memorial]], official website.</ref><ref group="note">The clashes were preceded by two circumstances: "the organizers deviated from the route allowed by the mayor's office," and the Moscow authorities decided to "obstruct the movement of the column along Leninsky Avenue." Subsequently, the authorities failed to rationally justify such a decision: the movement took place in the direction ''from'' the city center. The version that "the demonstrators are going to smash Gorbachev's dacha" remained unconfirmed.<br/>The demonstrators, who were moving along Leninsky Avenue from Oktyabrskaya Square, noticing the truck barriers, as well as the cordon of police officers and OMON, reorganized, putting forward a vanguard of 500–600 people, the most organized part of which was the squad of the National Salvation Front. A few tens of meters before the cordon, the column stepped up and almost immediately broke through the cordon.<br/>See the cited report by [[Memorial (society)|Memorial]].</ref>

After the demonstrators broke through the cordon, OMON went on a counterattack near house 37 along Leninsky Avenue. "The demonstrators fought fiercely using banner poles." To overcome the barriers, the demonstrators used trucks as rams. One of the rams resulted in severe injuries to OMON Sergeant Vladimir Tolokneyev, who died four days later. Media reports on the number of victims varied: the initial figure of 150 people soon quadrupled.<ref name=memo93/>

1 May is celebrated annually by communists, anarchists, and other organizations as the Day of International Solidarity of Workers. These events are accompanied by the promotion of sharp social and political slogans ("Government of bankrupts – resign!", "WE do not want to pay for YOUR crisis!", "Self-organization! Self-government! Self-defense!" etc.).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://kprf.ru/actions/65662.html |title=Лозунги 1 мая 2009 |trans-title=Slogans, 1 May 2009 |access-date=2010-01-04 |archive-date=2015-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522161557/http://kprf.ru/actions/65662.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://kprf.ru/party_live/56715.html |title=Лозунги 1 мая 2008 |trans-title=Slogans, 1 May 2008 |access-date=2010-01-04 |archive-date=2015-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522161707/http://kprf.ru/party_live/56715.html}}</ref>

The Spring and Labor Day, celebrated as a state holiday, is usually used for political actions under independent slogans by trade unions, parties, and movements of various orientations, from the left to the far right: [[United Russia]] (together with the [[Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia]] and the [[Young Guard of United Russia]]), [[A Just Russia]], the [[Communist Party of the Russian Federation]], [[Yabloko]], [[Solidarnost]], the [[Liberal Democratic Party of Russia]], and [[Autonomous Action]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ud.mos.ru/main/58-pervomajjskie-demonstracii-i-mitingi.html |title=Первомайские демонстрации и митинги |trans-title=1 May demonstrations and meetings |access-date=2010-01-04 |archive-date=2012-11-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120202649/http://ud.mos.ru/main/58-pervomajjskie-demonstracii-i-mitingi.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://vkrizis.ru/news.php?type=rus&lenta=1&arc=0&news=10526 |title=В первомайских демонстрациях и митингах в Москве приняли участие около 30 тыс. человек |trans-title=About 30,000 people took part in May Day demonstrations and rallies in Moscow |accessdate=2010-01-04 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928155414/http://vkrizis.ru/news.php?type=rus&lenta=1&arc=0&news=10526 |archivedate=2011-09-28}}</ref>

The slogans of official events organized by the authorities are far from the historical roots of the Labour Day demonstrations: "Putin's plan is a plan for Victory!", "Bonuses for pensioners", "Three kids in a family is the norm!".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.uao.mos.ru/textform.aspx?docid=25263&treepath=348,22568,22569,25263 |title=Официальный портал префектуры Южного административного округа города Москвы |trans-title=Official portal of the prefecture of the Southern Administrative District of Moscow |accessdate=2010-01-04 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120202629/http://www.uao.mos.ru/textform.aspx?docid=25263&treepath=348,22568,22569,25263 |archivedate=2012-11-20}}</ref>

A more radical attitude to the holiday in 2009 was expressed by the head of the metropolitan branch of the [[Right Cause]] party, Igor Trunov: "To be honest, I didn't really want to celebrate 1 May, because I don't stand in solidarity with the workers of Chicago, where this holiday came from".<ref>{{cite web |last=Zakatnova |first=Anna |date=2009-04-29 |url=http://www.rg.ru/2009/04/29/pervomay-site-anons.html |title=Москву 1 мая наглухо перекроют около 17 митингов, шествий и демонстраций |trans-title=Moscow on 1 May will be tightly blocked by about 17 rallies, marches and demonstrations |publisher=[[Rossiyskaya Gazeta]] |accessdate=2010-08-14 |archive-date=2011-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814223812/http://www.rg.ru/2009/04/29/pervomay-site-anons.html}}</ref>

On 1 May 2013, several hundred thousand workers took to the streets of Russian cities. More than 100,000 people took part in the Labour Day demonstration in Moscow.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://runews24.ru/society/demonstration-of-1-may.shtml |title=На первомайскую демонстрацию в Москве вышли 100 тыс. человек |work=Runews24 |trans-title=100 thousand people came to the May Day demonstration in Moscow |accessdate=2013-05-01 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522172100/http://runews24.ru/society/demonstration-of-1-may.shtml |archivedate=2015-05-22}}</ref>

Since 2014 a national civil parade has been held on 1 May on Red Square, with similar events held in major cities and regional capitals.

In 2016, the celebration of Easter and Labour Day overlapped,<ref name="РИА_010516">[http://ria.ru/spravka/20160501/1423389297.html День святой Пасхи] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506111917/http://ria.ru/spravka/20160501/1423389297.html |date=6 May 2016 }} // [[RIA Novosti]], 1 May 2016</ref> which led to the abandonment of Labour Day events in some regions.<ref name="Эхо_210416">[http://echo.msk.ru/news/1751934-echo.html В Калуге отменили первомайское шествие из-за Пасхи] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422041625/http://echo.msk.ru/news/1751934-echo.html |date=22 April 2016 }} // [[Echo of Moscow]], 21 April 2016</ref>

====Serbia====
In Serbia, 1 May (and also 2 May) is a day off work and a day out of school. It is one of the major popular holidays, and the only official holiday from socialist times that is still officially celebrated. People celebrate it all over the country. By tradition 1 May is celebrated by countryside picnics and outdoor barbecues. May is marked by warm weather in Serbia. In [[Belgrade]], the capital, most people go to {{lang|sr|[[Avala]]|italic=no}} or {{lang|sr|[[Košutnjak]]|italic=no}}, which are parks located in {{lang|sr|Rakovica|italic=no}} and {{lang|sr|Čukarica|italic=no}}. People go around the country to enjoy nature. A major religious holiday of {{lang|sr|[[Djurdjevdan]]|italic=no}} is on 6 May so quite often days off work are given to connect these two holidays and weekend, creating a small spring break. 1 May is celebrated by most of the population regardless of political views.

====Slovakia====
In Slovakia, 1 May is an official holiday. Celebrations are held surrounding workers' day but are also connected with the commemoration of the [[2004 enlargement of the European Union|entry of the Slovak Republic into the European Union]] (1 May 2004).<ref>{{cite web |last1=a.s |first1=Petit Press |title=May Day celebrated in style |url=https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20005065/may-day-celebrated-in-style.html |website=spectator.sme.sk |language=en |date=7 May 2007 |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=16 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016010053/https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20005065/may-day-celebrated-in-style.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Slovenia====
In Slovenia, 1 May and 2 May are public holidays. There are many official events all over the country to celebrate workers' day. In [[Ljubljana]], the capital, the main celebration is held on [[Rožnik (hill)|Rožnik Hill]] in the city. On the night of 30 April, bonfires are traditionally burned.<ref>{{cite web |title=Slovenia celebrating Labour Day |url=http://www.sloveniatimes.com/slovenia-celebrating-labour-day |website=sloveniatimes.com |date=May 2016 |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=16 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016010648/http://www.sloveniatimes.com/slovenia-celebrating-labour-day |url-status=live |author1=w3Bstudio }}</ref>

====Spain====
{{Main|Labor Day in Spain}}

[[File:Manifestacio barcelona primer de maig alternatiu 2009.JPG|thumb|Labor Day rally in [[Barcelona]], Spain]]

In Spain, the first Workers' Day ({{Lang|es|Día del Trabajador}}) was celebrated in 1889 but only became a public holiday with the beginning of the [[Spanish Second Republic]] in 1931. It was banned afterwards by the [[Francoist Spain|Franco regime]] in 1937.<ref>{{cite web |title=Esta ha sido la evolución del Día del Trabajo en España |url=https://www.revistagq.com/noticias/politica/articulos/evolucion-1-de-mayo-dia-del-trabajo-espana/25991 |website=GQ España |language=es-ES |access-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507140041/https://www.revistagq.com/noticias/politica/articulos/evolucion-1-de-mayo-dia-del-trabajo-espana/25991 |archive-date=7 May 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The year after it was decreed that the "Fiesta de la Exaltación del Trabajo," or Labor Festival, be held on 18 July, the anniversary of the [[Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War)|Francoist]] [[Spanish coup of July 1936|military coup]], instead.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Montagut |first1=Eduardo |title=1º de Mayo durante el franquismo |url=https://www.nuevatribuna.es/articulo/cultura---ocio/primero-mayo-franquismo/20150427101518115189.html |website=Nuevatribuna |date=29 April 2015 |access-date=7 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507140040/https://www.nuevatribuna.es/articulo/cultura---ocio/primero-mayo-franquismo/20150427101518115189.html |url-status=live }}</ref> After the death of [[Francisco Franco]] in 1975 and the move towards democracy, the first large rallies on 1 May began again in 1977. It was re-introduced as a public holiday in 1978.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Millán |first1=Agustín |title=Fuerte represión en el primero de mayo de 1977 |url=https://diario16.com/fuerte-represion-primero-mayo-1977/ |website=Diario16 |language=es |date=1 May 2017 |access-date=7 May 2019 |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507140037/https://diario16.com/fuerte-represion-primero-mayo-1977/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Commonly, peaceful demonstrations and parades occur in major and minor cities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Labor Day Demonstration |url=https://www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/events/labor-day-demonstration-2019/ |website=(barcelona-metropolitan.com) |language=en-us |date=25 April 2019 |access-date=7 May 2019 |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507140039/https://www.barcelona-metropolitan.com/events/labor-day-demonstration-2019/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Thousands join May Day march against corruption in Madrid |url=https://www.thelocal.es/20170501/thousands-march-in-madrid-against-corruption |website=thelocal.es |date=1 May 2017 |access-date=7 May 2019 |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507140040/https://www.thelocal.es/20170501/thousands-march-in-madrid-against-corruption |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Sweden====
[[File:1maj2006soc.dem.sthlm.jpg|thumb|[[Swedish Social Democratic Party]] at International Workers' Day demonstration in [[Stockholm]], [[Sweden]], in 2006. The party has dominated Swedish politics for nearly a century. The [[Swedish Trade Union Confederation|trade union palace]] in Stockholm is seen at the end of the picture.]]

1 May has been an important part of Swedish history since the late 19th century. The day was made a [[public holiday]] in 1938 but had been celebrated by the [[Swedish Social Democratic Party]] and the [[vänsterpartiet|left]] since 1890. The first International Workers' Day celebration gathered more than 50,000 people in central Stockholm. The crowd went to hear speeches by the leading figures in the [[Swedish labour movement]] such as [[Hjalmar Branting]] (later [[prime minister]]), [[August Palm]] and [[Hinke Bergegren]]. During [[World War I]] the demonstrations mainly had a peace message and the [[Liberal People's Party (Sweden)|Liberal Party]] also joined the demonstrations. The [[8-hour working day|eight-hour working day]] and [[women's suffrage]] were the principal themes during the troubled times after World War I.

Recognizing the central contributions of workers and international worker solidarity in Swedish social, economic, political and cultural development, International Workers' Day demonstrations are an important part of Swedish politics and culture for social democrats and democratic socialists. In Stockholm the [[Swedish Social Democratic Party|Social Democratic Party]] always marches towards [[Norra Bantorget]], the historical, physical centre of the Swedish labour movement, where they hold speeches in front of the headquarters of the [[Swedish Trade Union Confederation]], while the smaller [[Vänsterpartiet|Left Party]] marches in larger numbers<ref>[http://storstockholm.vansterpartiet.se/2012/jonas-sjostedt-talar-pa-sveriges-storsta-forsta-maj-firande/ Jonas Sjöstedt talar på Sveriges största första maj-firande {{!}} Vänsterpartiet Storstockholm] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501050932/https://storstockholm.vansterpartiet.se/2012/03/15/jonas-sjostedt-talar-pa-sveriges-storsta-forsta-maj-firande/ |date=1 May 2023 }}. Storstockholm.vansterpartiet.se. Retrieved on 1 May 2013.</ref> towards [[Kungsträdgården]].

Since 1967, the [[Communist Party (Sweden)|Communist Party]] and its [[youth wing]], [[Revolutionary Communist Youth (Sweden)|Revolutionary Communist Youth]], have held their own International Workers' Day march, known as {{lang|sv|Röd Front}} ('Red Front').<ref>{{cite news |title=Röd Front 40 år |url=http://www.proletaren.se/ledare/rod-front-40-ar |access-date=26 April 2017 |publisher=Proletären |date=24 April 2007 |archive-date=27 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427003926/http://www.proletaren.se/ledare/rod-front-40-ar |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, Röd Front marches were held at 33 locations across the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=Röd Front 2016 i bilder |url=http://www.kommunisterna.org/nyheter/2016/05/rod-front-2016 |website=Kommunistiska Partiet |date=May 2016 |access-date=26 April 2017 |archive-date=27 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427004136/http://www.kommunisterna.org/nyheter/2016/05/rod-front-2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> The largest Röd Front marches are usually held in the industrial and financial port town of [[Gothenburg]], Sweden's second-largest city and one of the party's strongholds.<ref>{{cite web |title=Röd Front runt om i landet |url=http://www.kommunisterna.org/nyheter/2014/05/rod-front-runt-om-i-landet |website=Kommunistiska Partiet |date=May 2014 |access-date=26 April 2017 |archive-date=27 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427004226/http://www.kommunisterna.org/nyheter/2014/05/rod-front-runt-om-i-landet |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rothelius |first1=Lars |title=Röd front 1 maj 2015 |url=http://www.proletaren.se/rod-front-1-maj-2015 |access-date=26 April 2017 |publisher=Proletären |date=1 May 2015 |archive-date=27 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427100556/http://www.proletaren.se/rod-front-1-maj-2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Parade of the May 1 demonstrations (70-ies). (6984904464).jpg|thumb|International Workers' Day in the [[Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic]] in the 1970s]]

====Switzerland====
In Switzerland, the status of 1 May differs depending on the [[Cantons of Switzerland|canton]] and sometimes on the municipality. Labour Day is known as {{lang|de|Tag der Arbeit}} in German-speaking cantons, as {{lang|fr|Fête du travail}} in the French-speaking cantons, and as {{lang|it|Festa del lavoro}} in the Italian-speaking canton of {{lang|it|[[Ticino]]|italic=no}}.
* In the cantons of {{lang|de|[[Basel-Landschaft]]|italic=no}}, {{lang|de|[[Basel-Stadt]]|italic=no}}, [[Canton of Jura|Jura]], {{lang|fr|[[Canton of Neuchâtel|Neuchâtel]]|italic=no}}, and {{lang|de|[[Canton of Zurich|Zürich]]|italic=no}}, Labour Day is an official public holiday equal to Sundays, based on federal law ({{lang|de|Bundesgesetz über die Arbeit in Industrie, Gewerbe und Handel}}, article 20a).
* In the cantons of {{lang|de|[[Canton of Schaffhausen|Schaffhausen]]|italic=no}}, {{lang|de|[[Thurgau]]|italic=no}}, and {{lang|it|Ticino|italic=no}}, Labour Day is an official "day off" ({{lang|de|Ruhetag}}). This is equal in practice to an official public holiday, but is not based on federal law and cantonal regulations may differ in details.
* In the canton of [[Canton of Solothurn|Solothurn]] it is an official half-day holiday (starting at 12 noon).
* In the canton of {{lang|fr|[[Canton of Fribourg|Fribourg]]|italic=no}}, public servants get the afternoon off, many companies follow this practice.
* In the canton of {{lang|de|[[Aargau]]|italic=no}} it is not an official holiday, but most employees get the afternoon off.
* In the municipalities of {{lang|de|[[Hildisrieden]]|italic=no}} and {{lang|de|[[Schüpfheim]]|italic=no}} (both in the canton of [[Canton of Lucerne|Lucerne]]) as well as in {{lang|de|[[Muotathal]]|italic=no}} (canton of {{lang|de|[[Canton of Schwyz|Schwyz]]|italic=no}}), 1 May is an official public holiday, but as commemoration day of the local [[patron saint]], not as Labour Day. In the other parts of the cantons of Lucerne and {{lang|de|Schwyz|italic=no}}, 1 May is a regular work day.
* In all other cantons, 1 May is a regular work day.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wo der 1. Mai in der Schweiz ein Feiertag ist |url=https://www.t-online.de/leben/familie/id_73457972/wo-der-1-mai-in-der-schweiz-ein-feiertag-ist.html |website=t-online.de |date=16 April 2015 |access-date=6 May 2019 |language=de |archive-date=7 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907053226/https://www.t-online.de/leben/familie/id_73457972/wo-der-1-mai-in-der-schweiz-ein-feiertag-ist.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The largest Labour Day celebrations in Switzerland are held in the city of {{lang|de|[[Zürich]]|italic=no}}. Each year, {{lang|de|Zürich|italic=no}}'s 1 May committee, together with the [[Swiss Federation of Trade Unions]], organizes a festival and 1 May rally. It is the largest rally held on a regular basis in Switzerland.<ref>{{cite news |title=1. Mai in Zürich: So viele Teilnehmer wie seit Jahren nicht mehr |url=https://www.nzz.ch/zuerich/1-mai-in-zuerich-so-viele-teilnehmer-wie-seit-jahren-nicht-mehr-ld.1478690 |access-date=6 May 2019 |work=Neue Zürcher Zeitung |language=de |archive-date=2 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502203926/https://www.nzz.ch/zuerich/1-mai-in-zuerich-so-viele-teilnehmer-wie-seit-jahren-nicht-mehr-ld.1478690 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Turkey====
[[File:May day clashes in 2013.jpg|thumb|Istanbul May Day clashes in 2013]]
[[File:Istanbul May Day 2012.JPG|thumb|Workers marching to [[Taksim Square]], 1 May 2012]]
1 May is an official holiday celebrated in Turkey. It was a holiday as "Spring Day" until 1981 when it was canceled after the [[1980 Turkish coup d'état|1980 coup d'état]]. In 2009, the Turkish government restored the holiday after some casualties and demonstrations. [[Taksim Square]] is the centre of the celebrations due to the [[Taksim Square massacre]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Istanbul police confront protesters |url=https://www.dw.com/en/police-confront-may-day-protesters-in-istanbuls-taksim-square/a-38651303 |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref>

Workers' Day was first celebrated in 1912 in [[Istanbul]] and in 1899 in [[İzmir]]. After the establishment of the Turkish Republic in 1923, the celebrations continued. In 1924, it was forbidden by a decree of the [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk|Kemalist government]] in both 1924 and 1925, demonstrations were intervened by arm floats. In 1935, The National Assembly declared 1 May as "Spring Day" to be a public holiday.<ref name="marksist.com">[http://www.marksist.com/utku_kizilok/isgunu_mucadelesi_ve_1_mayis_in_dogusu.htm İşgünü Mücadelesi ve 1 Mayıs'ın Doğuşu {{!}} sınıf mücadelesinde Marksist Tutum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928002434/http://www.marksist.com/utku_kizilok/isgunu_mucadelesi_ve_1_mayis_in_dogusu.htm |date=28 September 2007}}. Marksist.com. Retrieved on 1 May 2013.</ref>

During the events leading to the 1980 Turkish coup d'état, a massacre occurred on 1 May 1977 (Taksim Square massacre), in which unknown people ([[agent provocateur|agents provocateurs]]) opened fire on the crowd.  The crowd was the biggest in Turkish workers' history with the number of people approximating 500,000. In the next two years, provocations and confusion continued and peaked before the 1980 coup d'état. The 1 May holiday was cancelled after the coup d'état. Still, demonstrations continued with small crowds, and in 1996, three people were killed by police bullets, and a plain-clothes man who spied in the crowd was revealed and lynched by workers. On the same evening, a video broadcast on TV showed that two participants in the demonstration were lynched by far right-wing nationalist groups and this lynching occurred in front of police forces who were watching the scene with happy faces. Thus, 1 May 1996 has been remembered by workers' movements.<ref name="marksist.com"/>

In 2007, the 30th anniversary of the Taksim Square Massacre, leftist workers' unions wanted to commemorate the massacre in [[Taksim Square]]. Since the government would not let them into the square, 580–700 people were stopped and 1 person died under police control. After these events, the government declared 1 May as "Work and Solidarity Day" but not as a holiday. In the next year, the day was declared as a holiday, but people were still not allowed to gather in Taksim Square.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090531134748/http://rega.basbakanlik.gov.tr/eskiler/2009/04/20090427-1.htm Ulusal bayram ve genel tati̇ller hakkında kanunda]. rega.basbakanlik.gov.tr (22 April 2009).</ref> The year 2008 was remembered with police violence in Istanbul. Police fired tear gas grenades among the crowds, and into hospitals and a primary school. Workers pushed forward so that thousands gathered in Taksim in 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pearse |first=Damien |date=2011-05-01 |title=May Day protests take place globally |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/may/02/may-day-protests-world |access-date=2026-05-06 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

After three years of peaceful meetings in 2013, meetings in Taksim Square were forbidden by the government. Clashes occurred between police and workers; [[water cannon]] and [[tear gas]] have been widely used.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.euronews.com/2013/05/01/may-day-clashes-in-turkey/ |title=Clashes mar International Workers' Day in Turkey &#124; euronews, world news |publisher=Euronews.com |access-date=17 December 2013 |archive-date=17 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217222252/http://www.euronews.com/2013/05/01/may-day-clashes-in-turkey/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Ukraine====
International Workers' Day is a public holiday in Ukraine, inherited from the Soviet era. The 1st May as a day of workers' solidarity in Kyiv began as early as 1894.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://kp.ua/kiev/392092-kyevskyi-pervomai|title=История современности: в Киеве Первомай отмечают с 1894 года|website=kp.ua|access-date=7 March 2021|archive-date=6 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206235358/https://kp.ua/kiev/392092-kyevskyi-pervomai|url-status=live}}</ref> Until 2018, 2 May was also a public holiday (as in the Soviet era), instead in 2017 [[Western Christianity]]'s [[Christmas]] celebrated 25 December became a new Ukrainian public holiday.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://m.digitaljournal.com/news/world/ukraine-seeks-distance-from-moscow-with-new-christmas-holiday/article/507753|title=Ukraine seeks distance from Moscow with new Christmas holiday|website=m.digitaljournal.com|date=16 November 2017|access-date=16 November 2017|archive-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117065016/http://m.digitaljournal.com/news/world/ukraine-seeks-distance-from-moscow-with-new-christmas-holiday/article/507753|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="BBCU42008437b">{{Cite news|url=http://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/news-42008437|script-title=uk:Рада зробила 25 грудня вихідним днем|date=16 November 2017|work=BBC Україна|access-date=16 November 2017|language=uk|archive-date=30 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230065213/http://www.bbc.com/ukrainian/news-42008437|url-status=live}}</ref> The 1 May International Workers' Day remained a Ukrainian public holiday, although it was renamed (also in 2017) from "Day of International Solidarity of Workers" to "Labour Day".<ref name="BBCU42008437b"/>

In 2015, the [[Communist Party of Ukraine|Communist Party's]] Labor Day rallies were banned in [[Kyiv]] and [[Kharkiv]].<ref>"[http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/kharkiv-court-bans-communist-march-rally-on-may-1-387066.html Kharkiv court bans Communist march, rally on May 1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427231514/http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/kharkiv-court-bans-communist-march-rally-on-may-1-387066.html |date=27 April 2015 }}". [[Kyiv Post]]. 24 April 2015.</ref>

Late May 2015 [[Decommunization in Ukraine|laws that ban communist symbols]] came into effect in Ukraine, thus banning communist symbols, singing the Soviet national hymn or the Internationale.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/21/ukraine-bans-soviet-symbols-criminalises-sympathy-for-communism |title=Ukraine bans Soviet symbols and criminalises sympathy for communism |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=21 May 2015 |access-date=30 June 2015 |archive-date=22 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222123954/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/21/ukraine-bans-soviet-symbols-criminalises-sympathy-for-communism |url-status=live}}</ref>

According to Interior Minister [[Arsen Avakov]] during the 2016 International Workers' Day rallies in some major cities the number of [[National Police of Ukraine|police officers]] far outnumbered the number of rally participants.<ref name="mptrmd16U"/> With in [[Dnipro]] 193 policemen protecting 25 rally participants.<ref name="mptrmd16U">{{in lang|uk}} [http://pda.pravda.com.ua/news/id_7107361/ Avakov: "May Day rallies" passed without incident and noise] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504164446/http://pda.pravda.com.ua/news/id_7107361/ |date=4 May 2016 }}, [[Ukrayinska Pravda]] (1 May 2016)</ref>

====United Kingdom====
A public bank holiday in the [[United Kingdom]] was created in 1978.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The history of May Day |url=https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/history/the-history-of-may-day |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=National Trust |language=en}}</ref> It is called the "Early May bank holiday" and is held on the first Monday in May each year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-02 |title=Early May bank holiday opening times for Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Aldi |url=https://www.the-independent.com/life-style/may-day-bank-holiday-supermarket-opening-times-b2069684.html |access-date=2026-08-25 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref name="UK bank holidays">{{Cite web |date=2024-05-06 |title=UK bank holidays |url=https://www.gov.uk/bank-holidays |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>

===Oceania===
====Australia====
{{See also|Labour Day#Australia}}
[[File:Labourday1.jpg|thumb|The Labour Day March in [[Brisbane, Queensland]], is the largest rally in [[Australia]].]]
While unofficial activities and commemorations associated with International Workers' Day occur on 1 May in Australia, [[Labour Day]] in the various states and territories generally falls on other days. In the [[Northern Territory]] and [[Queensland]], Labour Day is a public holiday on the first Monday in May.<ref>{{cite web |title=Labour Day / May Day: 4-6 May 2024 |url=https://ieuqnt.org.au/labourday/#:~:text=In%201901%20the%20first%20Monday,in%20May%20of%20each%20year. |website=[[Independent Education Union of Australia]] |access-date=1 May 2024}}</ref> In Australia, one of the first Labour Day marches occurred in Queensland on 1 May 1891.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/arabic/en/article/2017/05/01/when-did-australia-first-celebrate-labour-day|title=When did Australia first celebrate Labour Day?|website=SBS Your Language|language=en|access-date=1 May 2019|archive-date=1 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501155407/https://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/arabic/en/article/2017/05/01/when-did-australia-first-celebrate-labour-day|url-status=live}}</ref>

====New Zealand====
[[New Zealand]] workers were among the first in the world to claim the right for an eight-hour working day when, in 1840, the carpenter [[Samuel Duncan Parnell|Samuel Parnell]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/samuel-parnell|title=Samuel Parnell {{!}} NZHistory, New Zealand history online|website=nzhistory.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=30 August 2018|archive-date=30 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830174246/https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/samuel-parnell|url-status=live}}</ref> won an eight-hour day in [[Wellington]]. Labour Day was first celebrated in New Zealand on 28 October 1890.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/keyword/labour-day|title=Labour Day {{!}} NZHistory, New Zealand history online|website=nzhistory.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=30 August 2018|archive-date=30 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830174229/https://nzhistory.govt.nz/keyword/labour-day|url-status=live}}</ref> Labour Day falls every year on the fourth Monday of October.

===South Asia===
====Bangladesh====
In Bangladesh, 1 May is a public holiday and called International Workers' Solidarity Day. A parade and other events are held on the day to commemorate the occasion.<ref>{{cite news |title=Historic May Day being observed across the country |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2019/05/01/historic-may-day-being-observed-across-the-country |access-date=8 May 2019 |work=Dhaka Tribune |date=1 May 2019 |archive-date=4 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504124212/https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2019/05/01/historic-may-day-being-observed-across-the-country |url-status=live }}</ref>

====India====
[[File:Triumph of Labour at Marina Beach.jpg|thumb|''[[Triumph of Labour]]'' at the [[Marina Beach]] in [[Chennai]]]]
In India, Labour Day is a not a public holiday on 1 May.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/holidaymatrixdisplay.aspx |title=Holidays – Reserve Bank of India |publisher=Reserve Bank of India |date=1 May 2014 |access-date=1 May 2014 |archive-date=2 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502032040/http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/holidaymatrixdisplay.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref> The International Workers' Day is tied to labour movements for communist and socialist political parties. Labour Day is known as "Uzhaipalar dhinam" in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and was first celebrated in [[Chennai|Madras]], "Kamgar Din" in [[Hindi]], "Karmikara Dinacharane" in [[Kannada]], "Karmika Dinotsavam" in [[Telugu language|Telugu]], "Kamgar Divas" in [[Marathi language|Marathi]], "Thozhilaali Dinam" in [[Malayalam]] and "Shromik Dibosh" in [[Bengali language|Bengali]]. Since Labour day is not a national holiday, Labour day is observed as public holiday at [[State governments of India|State Government]]'s discretion. Many parts especially in [[North India|North Indian States]] it is not a public holiday.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/why-you-may-or-may-not-have-worked-on-may-day/article18347887.ece |title=Why you may (or may not) have worked on May Day |author=Somesh Jha |date=1 May 2017 |work=The Hindu |access-date=1 May 2019 |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501111453/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/why-you-may-or-may-not-have-worked-on-may-day/article18347887.ece |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first celebration in [[India]] was organized in Madras (now [[Chennai]]) by the [[Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan]] on 1 May 1923.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.singaravelar.com/achievements.htm |title=Achievements |publisher=Singaravelar |access-date=1 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421062618/http://www.singaravelar.com/achievements.htm |archive-date=21 April 2011  }}</ref> This was also the first time the [[red flag (politics)|red flag]] was used in India.<ref name="rao1">M.V.S. Koteswara Rao. ''Communist Parties and United Front – Experience in Kerala and West Bengal''. [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]: Prajasakti Book House, 2003. p. 110</ref> The party leader [[Malayapuram Singaravelu Chettiar|Singaravelu Chettiar]] made arrangements to celebrate International Workers' Day in two places in 1923. One meeting was held at the beach opposite to the [[Madras High Court]]; the other meeting was held at the [[Triplicane]] beach. ''[[The Hindu]]'' newspaper, published from Madras reported,<ref>Report of May Day Celebrations 1923, and Formation of a New Party ''The Hindu'' quoted in Murugesan, K., Subramanyam, C.S. ''Singaravelu, First Communist in South India''. [[New Delhi]]: People's Publishing House, 1975. p. 169</ref>

<blockquote>The Labour Kisan party has introduced May Day celebrations in Madras. Comrade Singaravelar presided over the meeting. A resolution was passed stating that the government should declare May Day as a holiday. The president of the party explained the non-violent principles of the party. There was a request for financial aid. It was emphasised that workers of the world must unite to achieve independence.</blockquote>

1 May is also celebrated as "[[Maharashtra Day]]"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2012/05/01/india-observes-international-labor-day/ |title=India Observes International Labor Day – India Real Time |publisher=Wall Street Journal (Blogs.wsj.com) |date=1 May 2012 |access-date=17 December 2013 |archive-date=17 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217221010/http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2012/05/01/india-observes-international-labor-day/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and "[[Gujarat Day]]" to mark the date in 1960, when the two western states attained statehood after the erstwhile [[Bombay State]] was divided on linguistic lines. Maharashtra Day is held at [[Shivaji]] Park in central [[Mumbai]]. Schools and offices in Maharashtra remain closed on 1 May. A similar parade is held to celebrate [[Gujarat Day]] in [[Gandhinagar]].

[[Vaiko]] (Vai Gopalsamy), General Secretary of [[Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]], appealed to the then Prime Minister [[V. P. Singh]] to declare 1 May as a national holiday, to which the PM heeded and from then on it became a national holiday to celebrate International Labour Day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Worker's Day on May 1st: Why do we celebrate this occasion? |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/world/international-workers-day-on-may-1st-why-do-we-celebrate-this-occasion |access-date=2026-08-25 |website=Free Press Journal |language=en}}</ref>

====Maldives====
[[Maldives]] first observed the holiday in 2011, after a declaration by [[President of the Maldives|President]] [[Mohamed Nasheed]]. He noted that this move highlighted the government's commitment as well as efforts of private parties to protect and promote workers' rights in the Maldives.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/36099/Maldives_declares_Labour_Day_a_public_holiday |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430003045/http://www.haveeru.com.mv/english/details/36099/Maldives_declares_Labour_Day_a_public_holiday |archive-date=30 April 2011 |title=Haveeru Online – Maldives declares Labour Day a public holiday |publisher=Haveeru.com.mv |date=27 April 2011 |access-date=1 May 2011}}</ref>

====Nepal====
International Workers' Day has been celebrated in [[Nepal]] since 1963.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20021107112118/http://www.nepalnews.com.np/archive/2002/april/arc379.htm "113th May Day being observed today"]. Nepal news.com (April 2002).</ref> The day became a public holiday in 2007.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20021107112118/http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/may/may01/news09.php May Day being observed across the country]. Nepal news.com (1 May 2008). It is known as Majdoor Diwas in Nepal</ref>

====Pakistan====
International Labour Day is observed in Pakistan on 1 May to commemorate the social and economic achievements of workers. It is a public and national holiday. Many organized street demonstrations take place on Labour Day (also known as  Youm-e-Mazdoor) in which workers and labour unions protest against labour repression and demand more rights, better wages and benefits.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Labour Day |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/311118-the-labour-day |website=thenews.com.pk |date=May 2018 |language=en |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=15 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715193530/https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/311118-the-labour-day |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Sri Lanka====
In Sri Lanka, International Workers' Day was declared a public, bank, and mercantile holiday in 1956.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bopage |first1=Lionel |title=Sri Lanka: May Day and workers' rights |url=https://www.ft.lk/columns/Sri-Lanka--May-Day-and-workers--rights/4-653917 |publisher=Daily FT |access-date=30 April 2023 |archive-date=6 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906141019/http://www.ft.lk/columns/Sri-Lanka--May-Day-and-workers--rights/4-653917 |url-status=live }}</ref>  Rallies are held in the capital, [[Colombo]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=May Day 2017 around the world |url=https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/news/2017/05/01/may-day-2017-around-the-world/101153646/ |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Southeast Asia===
====Cambodia====
In Cambodia, it is known as International Labour Day and is a public holiday.<ref>{{cite web |title=Annual Leave Laws, Paid Vacation, Holidays Entitlement in Cambodia |url=https://prake.org/labour-law/work-and-holiday |website=Prake.org |access-date=7 May 2019 |language=en-kh |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501163705/https://prake.org/labour-law/work-and-holiday |url-status=live }}</ref> No marches for labour day were permitted in Cambodia for several years after the [[2013 Cambodian general election]] and surrounding mass protests. A tightly controlled march on a limited scale was first permitted again in 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hundreds march in Cambodia's capital to mark Labour Day after ban lifted |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/hundreds-march-in-cambodias-capital-to-mark-labour-day-after-ban-lifted |access-date=7 May 2019 |work=The Straits Times |date=1 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507163339/https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/hundreds-march-in-cambodias-capital-to-mark-labour-day-after-ban-lifted |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Indonesia====
[[File:Protest march in Jakarta, Indonesia - 20070501.jpg|thumb|[[Anarchism in Indonesia|Anarchist]]s demonstration in Jakarta, 2007]]
International Workers' Day, or Labour Day, in [[Indonesia]] was first observed by ''Kung Tang Hwee'' labour union in Semarang on 1918. The organizations such as [[Sarekat Islam]], [[Boedi Oetomo]], and Insulinde also took parts on strike that day through ''Radicale Concentratie'' alliance. But in 1927 the celebrations banned by the [[Dutch East Indies]] colonial government.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yulianti |first=Tya Eka |title=Ada Tragedi di Balik May Day, Ini Sejarah Hari Buruh 1 Mei |url=https://www.detik.com/jabar/jabar-gaskeun/d-7894140/ada-tragedi-di-balik-may-day-ini-sejarah-hari-buruh-1-mei |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=detikjabar |language=id-ID}}</ref>

After independence, the 1 May Labour Day was observed again from 1946, with [[Soekarno]], the first president of the Republic, always attending the celebration. Two years later, he signed Law No. 12 of 1948 concerning workers' rights. The [[Soeharto]] [[New Order (Indonesia)|New Order]] regime banned Labour Day celebrations again from 1967 because of the day's association with Marxist and communist movements. The regime changed Labour Day to 20 February from 1973, marking the day on which all labour unions were merged by the government into the All Indonesian Federation of Workers (now [[Confederation of All Indonesian Workers' Unions]]).<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Darmawan |first1=Aditya Priyatna |last2=Pratiwi |first2=Inten Esti |date=2025-05-01 |title=Hari Buruh di Indonesia, Disambut Soekarno, Dihapus Soeharto, Dikembalikan Habibie dan SBY |url=https://www.kompas.com/tren/read/2025/05/01/050000765/hari-buruh-di-indonesia-disambut-soekarno-dihapus-soeharto-dikembalikan?page=2 |access-date=2025-05-01 |website=Kompas.com |language=id-ID}}</ref>

After the [[Fall of Suharto|fall of the New Order]], the day began celebrated again as a day for protests by labourers and workers. The day was officially made a public holiday in 2014. Every year on the day, labourers and students take over the streets in major cities across the country, voicing their demands for better income and supportive policies from the government.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/05/01/workers-need-more-a-holiday-may-day-unions.html |title=Workers need more than a holiday on May Day: Unions |publisher=The Jakarta Post |date=1 May 2013 |access-date=17 December 2013 |archive-date=17 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217221032/http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/05/01/workers-need-more-a-holiday-may-day-unions.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Malaysia====
[[Malaysia]] began observing the holiday in 1972 following an announcement by the late [[Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia|Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister]], [[Ismail Abdul Rahman]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://malayahistory.blogspot.com/2008/05/commemorating-labour-day-in-malaysia.html|title=Commemorating Labour Day in Malaysia|date=1 May 2008|work=Malaya History|access-date=6 September 2010|archive-date=1 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501194747/http://malayahistory.blogspot.com/2008/05/commemorating-labour-day-in-malaysia.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Myanmar====
In Myanmar, 1 May is known as Labour Day ({{langx|my|အလုပ်သမားနေ့}})  and is a public holiday.<ref>{{cite web |title=Myanmar celebrates May Day |url=https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_212171/lang--en/index.htm |language=en |date=1 May 2013 |access-date=7 May 2019 |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501195728/https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/newsroom/news/WCMS_212171/lang--en/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Philippines====
1 May is known as "Labor Day" ({{langx|fil|Araw ng Manggagawa}}, also known as ''Araw ng Paggawa'') and is a [[public holiday in the Philippines]]. On this day, labour organizations and unions hold protests in major cities.  On 1 May 1903, during the [[American Colonial Period of the Philippines|American colonial period]] the {{lang|es|[[Unión Obrera Democrática Filipina]]}} (Filipino Democratic Labor Union) held a rally in front of the [[Malacañang Palace]] demanding workers' economic rights and Philippine independence. In 1908, the [[Philippine Assembly]] passed a bill officially recognizing 1 May as a national holiday. In 1913, the first official celebration was held on 1 May 1913 when 36 labour unions convened for a congress in [[Manila]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=PH's 121st Labor Day: How the day for workers was established |url=https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/1/ph-s-121st-labor-day-how-the-day-for-workers-was-established |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Manila Bulletin |date=May 2023 |language=en |archive-date=1 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230501185435/https://mb.com.ph/2023/5/1/ph-s-121st-labor-day-how-the-day-for-workers-was-established |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the [[Presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo]], a policy was adopted called [[public holidays in the Philippines#"Holiday Economics"|holiday economics]] policy that moved holidays to either a Monday or a Friday to create a [[long weekend]] of three days. In 2002, Labor Day was moved to the Monday nearest to 1 May. Labour groups protested, as they accused the Arroyo administration of belittling the holiday.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1lg1AAAAIBAJ&dq=labor-day%20holiday-economics&pg=1890%2C4586998 |title=Gloria draws flak on holidays |newspaper=[[Philippine Daily Inquirer]] |date=12 April 2002 |access-date=1 May 2012 |archive-date=20 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221120054318/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1lg1AAAAIBAJ&dq=labor-day%20holiday-economics&pg=1890%2C4586998 |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2008, Labor Day was excluded in the holiday economics policy, returning the commemorations to 1 May, no matter what day of the week it falls on.<ref name=GMGApr2008>{{cite news |url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/89276/news/nation/may-1-not-covered-by-holiday-economics |title=May 1 not covered by 'holiday economics' |work=GMA News Online |date=14 April 2008 |access-date=1 May 2012 |archive-date=9 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160909005500/http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/89276/news/nation/may-1-not-covered-by-holiday-economics |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Singapore====
In Singapore, it is known as Labour Day and is a public holiday.<ref>{{cite news |title=Heng Swee Keat to speak at May Day Rally |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/heng-swee-keat-to-speak-at-may-day-rally |website=The Straits Times |language=en |date=29 April 2019 |last1=Seow |first1=Joanna |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501162854/https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/heng-swee-keat-to-speak-at-may-day-rally |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Prime Minister of Singapore|Prime Minister]], who is the leader of the ruling [[People's Action Party]], gives a Labour Day Rally championing the [[tripartism|tripartite relationship]] between government, employers, and employees.

====Thailand====
In Thailand, the day is known in English as National Labour Day, and is one of 17 official [[public holidays in Thailand]].<ref>{{cite web |title=2019 |url=https://www.bot.or.th/English/FinancialInstitutions/FIholiday/Pages/2019.aspx |website=bot.or.th |language=en |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501163040/https://www.bot.or.th/English/FinancialInstitutions/FIholiday/Pages/2019.aspx |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Vietnam ====
In Vietnam, it is known as International Labour Day ({{langx|vi|Ngày Quốc tế Lao động}}) and is a public holiday.<ref name="Ngày-Quốc-tế-Lao-động">{{cite web|url= https://www.archives.org.vn/gioi-thieu-tai-lieu-nghiep-vu/nguoi-lao-dong-viet-nam-duoc-nghi-ngay-1-5-tu-bao-gio.htm|title= Người lao động Việt Nam được nghỉ ngày 1.5 từ bao giờ?|date= 21 January 2018|access-date= 4 February 2022|author= Nguyễn Thu Hoài|publisher= Trung tâm Lưu trữ quốc gia I (National Archives Nr. 1, Hanoi) - Cục Văn thư và Lưu trữ nhà nước (State Records And Archives Management Department Of Việt Nam).|language= vi|archive-date= 16 July 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220716202717/https://www.archives.org.vn/gioi-thieu-tai-lieu-nghiep-vu/nguoi-lao-dong-viet-nam-duoc-nghi-ngay-1-5-tu-bao-gio.htm|url-status= live}}</ref> It was first adopted by the [[Nguyễn dynasty]] on the 11th day of the 9th month of the 16th year of the [[Bảo Đại]] Emperor (30 October 1941) by imperial decree.<ref name="Ngày-Quốc-tế-Lao-động"/> Later on 29 April 1946 President [[Hồ Chí Minh]] issued {{Lang|vi|Sắc lệnh số 56}} (Decree No. 56) which adopted the holiday for the [[North Vietnam|Democratic Republic of Vietnam]].<ref name="Ngày-Quốc-tế-Lao-động"/>

According to the decree "workers in public offices, private offices and factories throughout the country are entitled to a day off from work. International Labour 1.5 and still receive the same salary as a working day...".<ref name="Ngày-Quốc-tế-Lao-động"/> On 1 May 1946 the first International Labour Day of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was held.<ref name="Ngày-Quốc-tế-Lao-động"/>

===West Asia===
====Bahrain====
In Bahrain, 1 May is known as Labour Day and is a public holiday.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bahrain Bourse {{!}} Official Holidays |url=https://www.bahrainbourse.com/holidays |website=bahrainbourse.com |access-date=8 May 2019 |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501200344/https://www.bahrainbourse.com/holidays |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Iran====
In [[Iran]], 1 May is known as the International Workers' Day. It is not a public holiday but according to article 63 of [[Iranian labour law]] on top of the official public holidays observed in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Labour Day shall be considered an official holiday for workers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/WEBTEXT/21843/64830/E90IRN01.HTM#c3|title=Islamic Republic of Iran. Labour Code|website=ilo.org|access-date=5 November 2015|archive-date=18 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190918093742/http://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/WEBTEXT/21843/64830/E90IRN01.HTM#c3|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Iraq====
In [[Iraq]], it is known as the International Workers' Day and is a public holiday.<ref>{{cite web |title=Iraqi top officials vow to support workers on Labor Day – Xinhua {{!}} English.news.cn |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-05/01/c_138027680.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501153434/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-05/01/c_138027680.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 May 2019 |website=xinhuanet.com}}</ref>

====Israel====
[[File:PikiWiki Israel 2571 May First demonstration הפגנת אחד במאי.JPG|thumb|Labour Day march in Israel, 1 May 2007]]

After historically varying popularity of Labour Day, 1 May is not an official holiday in the [[State of Israel]]. In the 1980s there were several large marches in Tel Aviv, numbering as much as 350,000 in 1983 and perhaps even more in 1988, but a steady decline in numbers led to only 5,000 marchers in 2010. During the 1990s businesses began to treat it like a regular working day as the number of Labour Day-related activities decreased.<ref>{{cite news |last= Gilad |first= Elon |title= The Rise and Fall of Israel's May Day |url= https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2019-05-01/ty-article/.premium/the-rise-and-fall-of-israels-may-day/0000017f-f63a-d460-afff-ff7e8a740000 |access-date= 7 May 2019 |newspaper= Haaretz |date= 1 May 2019 |language= en |archive-date= 7 May 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190507164748/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-the-rise-and-fall-of-israel-s-may-day-1.7187463 |url-status= live }}</ref>

====Jordan====
1 May is known as Labour Day and is a public holiday.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jordan marks Labour Day |url=http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/jordan-marks-labour-day-0 |access-date=7 May 2019 |work=Jordan Times |date=30 April 2018 |language=en |archive-date=7 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507170556/http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/jordan-marks-labour-day-0 |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Lebanon====
1 May known as the Workers' Day and is a public holiday. Left-wing parties and workers' unions organize marches on 1 May.<ref>{{cite news |title=Workers march against corruption for Labor Day |url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2019/May-01/482235-workers-march-against-corruption-for-labor-day.ashx |work=[[The Daily Star (Lebanon)]] |access-date=7 May 2019 |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501192140/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2019/May-01/482235-workers-march-against-corruption-for-labor-day.ashx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Palestine====
1 May is known as Labour Day and is a public holiday.<ref>{{cite web |title=In the International Labour Day, National Society for Democracy and Law (NSDL) calls for providing the unemployed category with a decent life |work=The National Society for Democracy and Law |date=May 2014 |url=https://www.nsdl.org.ps/site/en/?p=1317 |access-date=16 October 2019 |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501201642/https://www.nsdl.org.ps/site/en/?p=1317 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mne.gov.ps/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=4&tabid=9&lng=1|title=وزارة الاقتصاد الوطني|access-date=16 October 2019|archive-date=21 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021071222/http://mne.gov.ps/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=4&tabid=9&lng=1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iug.ps/bitstream/handle/20.500.12358/19409/file_1.pdf|website=www.iug.ps|access-date=2 May 2021|title=A Study to Establish Traffic Statistical Records in Gaza City, Palestine|archive-date=16 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016182511/http://www.iug.ps/bitstream/handle/20.500.12358/19409/file_1.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Yemen====
1 May is known as Labour Day and is a public holiday.<ref>{{cite news |last1=al-Sabbagh |first1=Hazem |title=International Workers' Day marked with central event at Opera House |url=https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=76070 |website=Syrian Arab News Agency |date=1 May 2016 |access-date=17 October 2019 |archive-date=1 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501054226/https://www.sana.sy/en/?p=76070 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Official observation by country and territory ==
{| class="sortable wikitable"
!Country/Territory
!International Workers' Day / Labour Day [[public holiday]] on 1 May
|-
|{{flag|Afghanistan}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|Albania}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Algeria}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Andorra}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Angola}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Antigua and Barbuda}}
|{{maybe|first Monday in May}}
|-
|{{flag|Argentina}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Armenia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Australia}}
|{{No X|No (date varies by state/territory)}}
|-
|{{flag|Austria}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Azerbaijan}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|Bahamas}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Bahrain}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Bangladesh}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Barbados}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Belarus}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Belgium}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Belize}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Benin}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Bhutan}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Bolivia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Botswana}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Brazil}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Brunei}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Bulgaria}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Burkina Faso}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Burundi}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Cambodia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Cameroon}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Canada}}
|{{No X|No (first Monday in September)}}
|-
|{{flag|Cape Verde}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Central African Republic}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Chad}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Chile}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|China}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Colombia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Comoros}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Republic of the Congo}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Democratic Republic of the Congo}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Costa Rica}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Croatia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Cuba}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Cyprus}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Czech Republic}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Denmark}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|Djibouti}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Dominica}}
|{{maybe|first Monday in May}}
|-
|{{flag|Dominican Republic}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|East Timor}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Ecuador}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Egypt}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|El Salvador}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Equatorial Guinea}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Eritrea}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Estonia}}
|{{maybe|[[Public holidays in Estonia|Spring Day]] ({{lang|et|Kevadpüha}}) public holiday on 1 May}}<ref>{{cite web |title=National, public and school holidays |url=https://www.eesti.ee/eraisik/en/artikkel/republic-of-estonia/republic-of-estonia/national-public-and-school-holidays |website=Estonian State Portal |publisher=[[Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications]] |access-date=7 May 2026}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|Eswatini}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Ethiopia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Fiji}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|Finland}}
|{{maybe|[[May Day]] ({{lang|fi|[[Vappu]]}}) public holiday on 1 May}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Flag days, holidays, and other significant dates in Finland |url=https://esnlpr.fi/articles/flag-days-in-finland/ |website=[[Erasmus Student Network]] - [[Lappeenranta]] |access-date=7 May 2026}}</ref>
|-
|{{flag|France}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Gabon}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Gambia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Georgia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Germany}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Ghana}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Greece}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Grenada}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Guatemala}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Guinea}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Guinea-Bissau}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Guyana}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Haiti}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Honduras}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Hungary}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Iceland}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|India}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Indonesia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Iran}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Iraq}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Ireland}}
|{{maybe|first Monday in May}}
|-
|{{flag|Israel}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|Italy}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Ivory Coast}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Jamaica}}
|{{No X|No (23 May)}}
|-
|{{flag|Japan}}
|{{No X|No (23 November)}}
|-
|{{flag|Jordan}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Kazakhstan}}
|{{No X|No (Kazakhstan People's Unity Day celebrated instead; Labour Day falls on last Sunday in September)}}
|-
|{{flag|Kenya}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Kiribati}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Kuwait}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Kyrgyzstan}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Laos}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Latvia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Lebanon}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Lesotho}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Liberia}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|Libya}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Liechtenstein}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Lithuania}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Luxembourg}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Madagascar}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Malawi}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{Flag|Malaysia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Maldives}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Mali}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Malta}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Marshall Islands}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Mauritania}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Mauritius}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Mexico}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Federated States of Micronesia|name=Micronesia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Moldova}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Monaco}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Mongolia}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|Montenegro}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Morocco}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Mozambique}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Myanmar}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Namibia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Nauru}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Nepal}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Netherlands}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|New Zealand}}
|{{No X|No (fourth Monday in October)}}
|-
|{{flag|Nicaragua}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Niger}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Nigeria}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|North Korea}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|North Macedonia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Norway}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Oman}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|Pakistan}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Palau}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Palestine}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Panama}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Papua New Guinea}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|Paraguay}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Peru}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Philippines}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Poland}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Portugal}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Qatar}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|Romania}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Russia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Rwanda}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Saint Kitts and Nevis}}
|{{maybe|first Monday in May}}
|-
|{{flag|Saint Lucia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Samoa}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|San Marino}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|São Tomé and Príncipe}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|Senegal}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Serbia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Seychelles}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Sierra Leone}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|Singapore}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Slovakia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Slovenia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Solomon Islands}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|Somalia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|South Africa}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|South Korea}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|South Sudan}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Spain}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Sri Lanka}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Sudan}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|Suriname}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Sweden}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Switzerland}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Syria}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Taiwan}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Tajikistan}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Tanzania}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Thailand}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Togo}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Tonga}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|Trinidad and Tobago}}
|{{No X|No (19 June)}}
|-
|{{flag|Tunisia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Turkey}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Turkmenistan}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|Tuvalu}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Uganda}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Ukraine}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|United Kingdom}}
|{{maybe|Early May bank holiday on first Monday in May}}<ref name="UK bank holidays"/>
|-
|{{flag|United States}}
|{{No X|No (first Monday in September)}}
|-
|{{flag|Uruguay}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Uzbekistan}}
|{{No X|No (no holiday)}}
|-
|{{flag|Vanuatu}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Vatican City}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Venezuela}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Vietnam}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Yemen}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Zambia}}
|{{Yes C}}
|-
|{{flag|Zimbabwe}}
|{{Yes C}}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal bar|Organized labour|Communism|Socialism|Holidays}}
* [[Workers' Memorial Day]]
* [[Pervomaysky (disambiguation)]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=nb}}
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last=Foner |first=Philip Sheldon|author-link=Philip S. Foner |title=May day: a short history of the international workers' holiday, 1886–1986 |url=https://archive.org/details/maydayshorthisto0000fone |url-access=registration |publisher=International Publishers |location=New York |year=1986 |isbn=978-0-7178-0624-9 }}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* [http://www.marxists.org/subject/mayday/index.htm May Day Archive] at the [[Marxists Internet Archive]]
* [https://www.litakelley.com/blog/boston-may-day-coalition-international-workers-day-rally-march/ Boston May Day Coalition International Workers' Day Rally & March ]

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{{Authority control}}

{{Use Oxford spelling|date=March 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

[[Category:May Day protests]]
[[Category:History of anarchism]]
[[Category:Labour movement]]
[[Category:May observances]]
[[Category:International observances]]
[[Category:Trade unions]]
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[[Category:Anti-capitalism]]
[[Category:Industrial Workers of the World]]
[[Category:Communism]]
[[Category:Socialism]]
[[Category:Social democracy]]
[[Category:Democratic socialism]]
[[Category:National days in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Public holidays in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Public holidays in Russia]]
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[[Category:Public holidays in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Public holidays in Ukraine]]
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[[Category:Labour days]]
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[[Category:Second International]]
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