International Workers' Day, also known as Labour Day, celebrates the role of workers in society, honours the struggles of the labour movement, and recognizes the sacrifices made by trade unions and workers in the fight against apartheid and for fair working conditions.

When is International Workers' Day?

International Workers' Day in South Africa is celebrated every year on May 1.

The following is the list of International Workers' Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of International Workers' Day?

International Workers' Day, or May Day, has its roots in the labour movement of the late 19th century. It began after the Haymarket Affair (Chicago, 1886), where workers striking for an eight-hour workday faced violent suppression. May 1 was later adopted worldwide as a day to celebrate workers' struggles and achievements.

The first May Day events in South Africa were recorded in 1928, organized mainly by white workers and leftist groups. However, Black South African workers were excluded from most unions and faced harsh racial discrimination, low wages, and exploitative working conditions under colonial and segregationist policies.

From 1948 to 1994 (Under apartheid), racial oppression extended deeply into the workplace.

In the 1950s to 1970s, Black workers began to organize despite restrictions, forming underground unions and staging strikes.

In the 1980s, May Day gained huge significance as a symbol of both labour rights and anti-apartheid resistance.

After South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994, the new government under Nelson Mandela officially recognized May 1 as International Workers' Day, a public holiday.

In 1986, after decades of campaigning, May Day was declared a paid public holiday by the apartheid government — a concession to growing worker militancy.

International Workers' Day in South Africa recognized both the global labour movement and the critical role of South African workers in the struggle for democracy.