May 1st

Several countries celebrate Labor Day annually on May 1st.

This date commemorates the deep roots of the struggles and achievements of the working class for better working conditions.

It’s important to remember that the date was chosen to honor the workers of Chicago in the United States, given that in 1886, thousands of workers took to the streets demanding, among other rights, a reduction in the workday from thirteen to eight hours.

The reaction and subsequent repression by the State was violent, resulting in the deaths of numerous workers and police officers, and the imprisonment of many demonstrators.

In Brazil, the workers’ movement for better working conditions followed a similar path, but without the previously observed violence.

From 1939 onwards, Labor Day began to be celebrated in football stadiums, with the notable presence of government authorities.

On those occasions, new government measures were announced, such as the establishment of the minimum wage and the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT), symbolically outlining a set of practices aimed at the development and implementation of labor legislation. Subsequently, on April 6, 1949, with the publication of Law No. 662, May 1st was declared a national holiday by the government of Marshal Eurico Gaspar Dutra.

Thus, the entire historical process and the disputes faced brought to the forefront the core of labor protection, namely, the life and health of the worker, opening space for valuable reflections such as: (i) the limitation on the duration of the workday, (ii) the minimum age allowed for work, and (iii) protection against unhealthy and dangerous work.

Therefore, over the course of more than a hundred years, it is possible to consider that on May 1st, the world celebrates a series of achievements in Labor Law, and recognizes the need for reflection on past struggles and the future and continuous pursuit of improving working conditions.