International Workers' Day, also known as Labour Day, is a national public holiday celebrated in Tanzania. It honors the contributions, rights, and dignity of workers across the country. While rooted in global labor history, the Tanzanian observance reflects the country's own post-independence socialist values and ongoing struggle for workers' rights.

When is International Workers' Day?

International Workers' Day in Tanzania 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?

The holiday has its roots in the 1886 Haymarket Affair in Chicago, when workers rallied for an eight-hour workday. Since then, May 1 has been adopted by many countries as a day to celebrate and advocate for workers' rights.

After Tanganyika's independence in 1961, President Julius Nyerere promoted Ujamaa, a form of African socialism that emphasized self-reliance, equality, and communal labor.

Labor unions were tightly linked with the ruling party and state development plans. During this era, May 1 was established as a national holiday, aligned with the state's socialist ideology and honoring the working class as key agents of national development.

As Tanzania transitioned to a multi-party system and a liberal economy, trade unions gained more autonomy. Workers' Day became a platform for unions to raise demands, including fair wages, job security, pension reforms, and safe working conditions.