Labour Day (勞動節) is observed in Taiwan every year, in line with International Workers' Day celebrated worldwide. It is a day dedicated to recognizing the contributions and rights of workers across all industries.

When is Labour Day?

Labour Day in Taiwan 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 idea of International Labour Day began in the late 19th century, inspired by the Haymarket Affair in Chicago (1886), where workers protested for an eight-hour workday.

In 1889, the Second International declared May 1 as a day of international solidarity for workers. Many countries, especially those with socialist or labor-oriented histories, adopted it as a public holiday.

From 1895 to 1945 Taiwan was under the Japanese Rule, during this period, labor activism existed but was tightly controlled and suppressed. Taiwan's labor laws and unions were limited, and May Day was not officially observed.

When the Republic of China (ROC) took control of Taiwan in 1945, it brought Nationalist (Kuomintang/KMT) ideology, which was anti-communist and cautious of labor unrest.

Despite this, the ROC officially recognized May 1st as Labour Day, reflecting its pre-war legacy on the mainland and attempts to demonstrate respect for workers within a controlled framework.

In the 1950s, May 1 was officially designated Labour Day in Taiwan. However, only private-sector workers were given a paid holiday. Government employees, teachers, and students do not get the day off, a distinction that continues today.