Ittefaq Report
Bangladesh along with the rest of the world is observing May Day, the day that emphasizes on workers’ rights.
This year call has been made for greater unity among establishment owners and workers to strive for the country’s progress.
Workers’ bodies have organized various programs, including processions, rallies and human chain demonstrations on Friday to commemorate the sacrifices made to win their rights.
In his May Day message, President Abdul Hamid said combined efforts of workers and owners were necessary to build a strong economy and hoped concerted endeavors would help build a ‘Sonar Bangla’ – the dream of the Father of the Nation.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government reopened the mills and factories shut down by the BNP-Jamaat regime and announced minimum wages for workers of 38 industrial sectors.
She will inaugurate the day’s programs at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center at 4.30pm.
Leader of the opposition Begum Rawshan Ershad and Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad also issued their May Day messages.
In the late nineteenth century, the working class was in constant struggle to gain the 8-hour work day. Working conditions were severe and it was quite common to work 10 to 16 hour days in unsafe conditions.
On May 1, 1886, ten workers were killed in police firing near Hay Market in the US city of Chicago.
Those killed were workers campaigning for an eight-hour work shift instead of the prevalent 12 hours.
The authorities were finally forced to accept the demand, leading to the universal acceptance of the eight-hour shift.
An international working class rally on July 14, 1889 in Paris declared May 1 as the International Workers Solidarity Day as a tribute to the slain Chicago workers.
Since then, May 1 is observed globally as the day dedicated to workers’ solidarity.
Source: Ittefaq
