The nation, along with countries around the globe, is observing the historic May Day today with due solemnity and respect.

This year’s theme is: “Workers and owners united; let us rebuild the country anew.”

May Day has been commemorated worldwide since 1886, in memory of the courageous sacrifices made by workers during the Haymarket affair in Chicago, USA. Their movement for an eight-hour workday and the broader struggle for labor rights marked a turning point in the global labor movement.

Tragically, many workers lost their lives due to bomb blasts and police brutality during the events of May 1, 1886, and the subsequent days. Their martyrdom laid the foundation for the recognition of workers' rights across the world.

In Bangladesh, as in many other nations, the day is observed with due reverence to honor the contributions of the working class. Media outlets across the country are publishing features and airing special programs to highlight the significance of the occasion.

May Day is recognized as a public holiday in around 80 countries, including Bangladesh, and is informally observed in many others. Its international acknowledgment has brought transformative change for workers, particularly in reducing the daily work hours to eight.

The day has also helped elevate the dignity of labor globally, securing various rights and protections for workers and initiating a broader social transformation. Over time, the movement sparked by May Day contributed to diminishing class-based discrimination, though such inequalities have yet to be fully eradicated.

Nonetheless, the sacrifices made by the labor movement have played a vital role in liberating the oppressed from systemic exploitation.

Meanwhile, in a move to enhance labor rights and welfare, the current interim administration established a Labor Reform Commission.

Formed on November 17, the 10-member commission is headed by Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed, Executive Director of the Bangladesh Institute of Labor Studies (BILS). The body engaged in consultations with stakeholders and labor-related organizations to formulate its recommendations.

On April 21, the commission submitted its final report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus.

SMS/