Labour Day in Zambia is a national public holiday dedicated to honoring the contributions of workers to the nation's development. It aligns with the global celebration of International Workers' Day, commemorating the achievements of the labor movement.

When is Labour Day?

Labour Day in Zambia is celebrated every year on May 1.

The following is the list of Labour Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Labour Day?

The roots of Labour Day trace back to the late 19th-century labor movement, particularly the Haymarket Affair in Chicago in 1886, where workers protested for an eight-hour workday.

By the early 20th century, May 1st became widely recognized across many nations as a day to celebrate labor rights and demand better working conditions.

During British colonial rule, African workers in Zambia (then called Northern Rhodesia) were subject to poor wages, harsh working conditions, and racial discrimination.

The 1935 Copperbelt strike became a turning point in Zambia's labor history. African mineworkers protested against increased taxation and low wages in the Copperbelt mining region. This was one of the first major African labor protests in colonial Zambia and laid the foundation for later labor activism and political change.

After Zambia gained independence from Britain in 1964, the new government recognized the importance of the labor movement, which had played a role in the independence struggle.

Under the leadership of President Kenneth Kaunda, the government worked with labor unions to institutionalize May 1st as Labour Day.