KATHMANDU, May 1: Today marks the 129th Labor Day. It is also known as International Workers' Day in some countries. It is a celebration of laborers and the working classes that is promoted by the international labor movement, socialists, communists or anarchists.
The date was chosen for International Workers' Day by the Second International, a pan-national organization of socialist and communist political parties, to commemorate the Haymarket affair, which occurred in Chicago on 4 May 1886. The 1904 International Socialist Conference in Amserdam, the Sixth Conference of the Second International, called on "all Social Democratic Party organizations and trade unions 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."
May Day is a national public holiday in Nepal since 2007 though it has been celebrated in Nepal since 1963. The date is currently celebrated specifically as "Labor Day" or "International Workers' Day" in the majority of countries, including those that didn't traditionally celebrate May Day. Some countries celebrate a Labor Day on other dates significant to them, such as the United States, which celebrates Labor Day on the first Monday of September.
1.3 million people exit Kathmandu Valley in a week
President Bidya Devi Bhandari has wished for happiness, peace, prosperity and guarantee of labour rights to Nepalis living at home and abroad on the occasion of the International Labour Day.
In a message today, President Bhandari has recalled the crucial contributions of the working class for the establishment of the Federal Democratic Republic in Nepal and added that the labourers would benefit from the constitutional provision of making the socialism-oriented economy.
President Bhandari has also expressed the confidence that the International Labour Day would unite all working class people across the world in a thread of unity to ensure their rights and independence.
Likewise, Bhandari has wished for a favorable working environment to all Nepali workers at home and abroad, justifiable remuneration and social security and all other rights for the workers for the establishment of the appropriate industrial relations.
Similarly, Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Gokarna Raj Bista has said that the government was committed to ensuring labourers' rights and their implementation as ensured by the Constitution.
In a press statement today on the occasion of the May Day, Minister Bista has expressed best wishes to all Nepali workers sisters and brothers at home and abroad adding that massive employment opportunities would be created at home, making the labour more decent.
He also said that all three levels of the governments would coordinate and make efforts to make foreign employment safe, systematic and decent, end child labour and guarantee social security for the labourers.