International Labour Day 2026 is being observed worldwide on Friday, May 1, with rallies, public holidays and workplace safety campaigns focused on psychosocial health and climate risks.
The International Labour Organisation said this year’s safety focus includes healthy psychosocial working environments, covering workload, stress, role clarity, communication and support at work.
More than 80 countries are marking May 1 as a public holiday, with government offices, banks and educational institutions closed in several states. In Pakistan and Nigeria, the observance of Friday has created a three-day weekend for many workers.
Rallies and labour events are being held in major cities, including Karachi, Delhi and Yaoundé, where workers’ groups are raising demands over wages, working conditions and legal protections.
In Cameroon’s capital, Yaoundé, thousands of workers joined a parade on May 20 Boulevard, with unions also highlighting women’s empowerment and gender equality in the workplace.
The ILO has also linked psychosocial risk factors at work to more than 840,000 deaths each year worldwide, citing associations with cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders.
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In Pakistan, Labour Day is traditionally marked by processions and seminars organised by trade unions calling for better wages, safer workplaces and improved labour protections.
International Labour Day 2026 is being observed worldwide on May 1, with rallies and public holidays focused on workplace safety, psychosocial health and climate-related risks for workers.
