Commemorating International Labor Day
Since the 1880s, May 1 has been the official Labor Day worldwide. Since that time, different labor movements have demanded improvements in working conditions, mainly:
- Eight-hour work days.
- Unions that would protect employees.
- Compensation for work accidents.
- Disappearance of child labor.
- Regulation of women’s work.
When is Labor Day commemorated in Mexico?
Different labor organizations established May 1 as Labor Day in Mexico during the Mexican Revolution. It was first celebrated in 1913 during a parade in which more than 25 thousand workers participated.
Photo: Diario Yaqui.MX 1° de Mayo: Día del Trabajo en México
Subsequently, the commemoration of Labor Day gained strength and became an important day to remember that the fight to improve working conditions is still valid and is one of the tasks of the State.
May 1 is a mandatory day of rest in Mexico; the president of Mexico usually holds a ceremony in which the workers’ unions that exist around the country attend.
In Mexico, the government, together with the Secretary of Labor, continues to modify Laws that allow optimizing the functioning of employees based on optimal conditions, such as prohibiting the employment of minors under 14 years of age, enjoying at least one day of rest, special protection for pregnant women and eight-hour days.
Mexican Town Dedicates Labor Day Festival to Hard-working Donkeys
The rural town of Otumba, Mexico, dedicates the Labor Day holiday to their hard-working donkeys. Thousands of families turned out for the traditional Donkey Day to attend donkey races, polo matches, and a costume competition.
The origins of Mexico’s Donkey Festival are said to be traced back some sixty years ago when Otumba residents, who relied heavily on donkeys, decided they deserved a day of honor.
Enjoy this video of their Donkey Festival courtesy of EAC News.
Reference:
TV Azteca, ¿Por qué se conmemora el Día del Trabajo en México?, Felipe Vera, 04/24/2023