Tarique Rajper
May 1 is known as the important and revolutionary day of labor. Labor is the backbone and essential part of our society and nation. They make our society and nation meaningful and fruitful. Every religion teaches us about the dignity and respect of labor. As in Islam, it was narrated from ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar that the Messenger of Allah (?) said: “Give the worker his wages before his sweat dries.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, 2443). Laborers work hard day and night to run their homes, but expenses are too high these days. Laborers protested from time to time for their rights and facilitations. Many countries still require children to perform labor, despite significant efforts by international organizations to prevent this practice. In the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan, Article 11 also prohibits children from working in certain conditions. These laws aim to protect children from exploitation and ensure their right to education and a safe childhood. It was a day for American workers, who raised their voices for their rights and demanded better working conditions. The day was May 1, 1886, when workers raised their voices and protested in Chicago, Haymarket (USA), against injustices like lower wages, unsafe working conditions, and working 12 to 16 hours without any break—anyone who attempted to take leave faced punishment and fines. Do not give them any kind of rights, like health and protection, and do not work with children under eighteen in hazardous places like coal mines and other factories. Therefore, they called for a strike. In the strike, American workers demanded eight hours of working days and strong labor unions. Many workers from other countries also participated in this protest, standing with American workers. The strike began peacefully on the first day and continued into the second, but on the second day, there was some violence against both police and workers in Chicago Haymarket. According to the British Council website, the police shot at unarmed workers and killed many of them. On the fourth day(May 4th, 1886), a large assembly of workers gathered there, and amid the strike, an unidentified individual hurled a bomb. The bomb claimed the lives of seven police officers and four civilians, in addition to injuring numerous other police officers and workers. The bomb blast led the police to arrest eight workers. One of them committed suicide in jail; four workers (Engel, Fischer, Parsons, and Spies) were hanged in the city jail; and three workers were pardoned. This event is known as the Haymarket Affair, or the Haymarket Incident, where working people came together for their rights and better working conditions. Many people in that area and the USA didn’t believe that workers had not committed any crimes; they were not guilty of this crime, and they also criticized the trial, saying that it was unfair. The Haymarket was the symbol of the labor movement’s success and victory, making it a revolutionary day. This led to the decision to designate May 1 as International Workers Day. In 1892, the eight-hour working day became law for workers in the United States. After this successful movement, workers now fight for their rights all over the world. The City of Chicago and the commercial area of Haymarket, where workers protested, gave the world’s workers’ movements hope and motivation and opened their eyes to stand up and fight for their rights. In 1894, Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, signed into law Labour Day as a holiday. People around the world celebrate International Workers Day, a public holiday honoring abortion, on May 1st. However, some countries, like Canada and the USA, celebrate it on specific dates, such as the first Monday of September. What types of events take place on Labour Day? Some countries organized rallies, commemorated the struggles of Chicago’s workers, and loudly protested for their rights and improved facilities. Most countries organize parades, marches, barbecues, and other events based on their unique traditions. The first Labour Day parade took place in New York City in 1882. Pakistan’s working conditions are not better than in other countries. The Pakistani government is responsible for that. They faced issues such as lower wages, unsafe working environments, and child labor. When the wages of those who make decisions for the Pakistani people in parliament, such as the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, Judges, Senators, Ministers, Members of the National Assembly, and Members of the Provincial Assembly, are equal to the wages of the workers, the fate of Pakistani workers can improve. They will then understand how workers manage expenses and spend their lives on lower wages, as well as their value and dignity. On May 1st of last year 2023, the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee Sakrand dismissed its daily wage employees without any reason, despite their many years of service. Despite protesting throughout the year and continuing to do so today, over forty employees in the same institution remain unreinstated. They and their families spend their lives in misery and starvation.On International Workers Day, I salute those who strive with dedication, truthfulness, and honesty to earn a better life. They should raise their voice and protest in front of higher authorities for their rights and facilitations, as Chicago revolutionary workers do. While raising wages, the government should eliminate labor injustices and inequalities. They should also implement it, as we stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s workers and proudly say that the workers are ours and we are from the workers.
