Labour Day in Serbia is both a recognition of the international labor movement and a national holiday of rest and celebration, marked by family picnics, cultural events, and occasional union demonstrations.

When is Labour Day?

Labour Day in Serbia is celebrated every year on May 1 and 2.

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

The History of Labour Day?

The roots of Labour Day lie in the workers' rights movement of the late 19th century. The most significant event was the Haymarket affair in Chicago (1886), where workers striking for an eight-hour workday were violently repressed. Following this, May 1 became a day of international solidarity for workers and was adopted worldwide as International Workers' Day.

By the late 19th and early 20th century, Serbia had growing industrial centers and an emerging working class.

Influenced by global labor movements, Serbian workers and trade unions began marking May 1 with demonstrations demanding better wages, shorter hours, and improved working conditions. These early observances often had a political character, as workers sought both social and national rights.

After World War II, Serbia became part of socialist Yugoslavia (1945–1990s) under Josip Broz Tito. Labour Day (Praznik rada) became one of the most important state holidays. It symbolized not only the workers' struggle but also the unity of Yugoslavia's peoples under socialism.

After the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Serbia continued to celebrate Labour Day, but the political dimension declined. Today, it is primarily seen as a holiday of rest, family and leisure, although trade unions still use the occasion to call attention to workers' rights and economic issues.

Labour Day in Serbia is a two-day public holiday (May 1–2), with widespread picnics, barbecues, and cultural festivities.