International Labour Day observed on May 1 with theme Ensuring a Healthy Psychosocial Working Environment

Exam-focused facts from the 2 May 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

International Labour Day, also known as May Day or Antrarashtriya Shramik Diwas in India, is observed annually on May 1.
The theme for International Labour Day 2026, selected by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), is Ensuring a Healthy Psychosocial Working Environment.
The day originated from the Haymarket Affair in Chicago in 1886, where labourers demonstrated for an 8-hour workday.
In India, the day is used to draw attention to issues including child labour, wage disparity, and the absence of social security for unorganised workers.
The article notes Chennai's worker movement in 1923.
The Indian states of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Kerala observe May Day as a public holiday.