Labour Day is a public holiday in North Korea, and it is observed on May 1 each year. The holiday is to celebrate the achievements of workers. Labour Day has its origins in the eight-hour day movement, which is eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.
In the 1800s, most workers had to work over 12 hours a day and 7 days a week to maintain a basic living, which led to the appearance of labor unions organizing strikes to improve the poor working conditions.
Many of the strikes turned violent at that time including the Haymarket Affair, which took place on May 4, 1886. The event started with a peaceful labor protest rally in support of the eight-hour workday near Chicago's Haymarket Square, and it turned into a riot when someone threw a bomb at police. At least seven police and four civilians died, and many were wounded. The Haymarket Affair is generally considered as the origin of Labour Day.
Labour Day in Russia was first legally celebrated on May 1 in 1917 following the February Revolution, and it became an important holiday in the following year. Following the Soviet Union, many other communist countries also celebrate Labour Day on May 1.
The following is the list of Labour Day in North Korea from 2022 to 2026.
| Holiday | Date | Weekday |
|---|---|---|
| Labour Day | May 01, 2022 | Sunday |
| Labour Day | May 01, 2023 | Monday |
| Labour Day | May 01, 2024 | Wednesday |
| Labour Day | May 01, 2025 | Thursday |
| Labour Day | May 01, 2026 | Friday |
Please check more public holidays in North Korea: