Labour Day in Morocco honors workers' rights and social progress, featuring parades, union gatherings, and speeches across the country that highlight solidarity, equality and the dignity of labor.

When is Labour Day?

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

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

The History of Labour Day?

Labour Day, or International Workers' Day, traces its roots to the Haymarket affair in Chicago (1886), where workers protesting for an eight-hour workday faced violent repression. The event inspired global labor movements, and May 1 was adopted as an international day to recognize workers' rights, social justice, and labor solidarity.

The tradition reached Morocco during the French protectorate era (1912–1956), when industrialization and the rise of urban labor centers brought about the formation of workers' unions. Initially, Labour Day activities were limited and tightly controlled by colonial authorities, who viewed labor organizing with suspicion.

Moroccan workers gradually began to use the day to demand fair wages, better working conditions, and respect for labor rights, often aligning with broader nationalist movements calling for independence and social equality.

Following Morocco's independence, Labour Day was officially recognized as a national holiday. The new government under King Mohammed V and later King Hassan II acknowledged the importance of labor unions in shaping social and economic policy.

Throughout the 1960s to 1990s, the day often served as a venue for political expression and social demands, with union parades, demonstrations, and speeches focusing on issues like wages, working hours, and workers' safety. It symbolized not only workers' rights but also freedom of association and democratic participation in Morocco's developing society.

Labour Day in Morocco reflects both international labor solidarity and local social progress. It is a day to honor workers across all sectors and to reaffirm the importance of dignity, equality, and fair opportunity in the workplace.