Syed Faruk Hossain: Great May Day.1st of May is the day of celebration of the international labor movement every year. This day of workers’ sacrifice for the realization of the rights of working people is celebrated all over the world. Day of hard-working people, the day of International Solidarity of the Working-Class people. The day is celebrated with due dignity and importance in all countries of the world including Bangladesh. May Day is the day to initiate revolutionary change in working class society around the world. Their chains were unraveled by the establishment of May Day when they were trapped in the web of class discrimination. As a result, class inequality of the society started disappearing gradually. Billions of workers have been freed from the aggressive sting of illegal greedy people who capitalize on the weak points of capitalism. A society free from discrimination and exploitation gave the whole world a gift this May Day. The ups and downs of the workers’ relationship with the employer came to a head only due to the recognition of May Day.

Due to the Corona epidemic, all May Day events in the world, including Bangladesh, was limited to avoid public gatherings last year. On the occasion of May Day, programs have been taken up by various labor organizations in Bangladesh in this year. The program includes workers’ rallies, processions, discussion meetings, seminars and cultural events. In different countries of the world, working people and workers’ organizations celebrated the day by organizing processions and processions in the streets. May 1st is a national holiday in about 80 countries of the world including Bangladesh. In many other countries it is celebrated privately. Every year on the first of May this day is celebrated worldwide. This is the day of celebration of the international labor movement. In different countries of the world, working people and workers’ organizations celebrated the day by organizing processions and processions in the streets. 1886 to 2022, not only the dignity, value and fair wages of labor, but also 136 years of the movement for fixing reasonable working hours. In the last 136 years, human society and civilization have changed a lot. Health care and safety benefits in the workplace and the legitimate and legal rights of every workers.

Matters relating to healthcare and safety under labor law include: hygiene, ventilation and heating systems, artificial humidity, crowding, lighting systems, fire incidents, overweight, working on or near buildings and equipment, explosives or flammable gases and dust, hazards. Smoke warnings, personal protective equipment, risk assessment and prevention measures. There is no denying the fact that nothing can be produced without labor. But how long will the working hours be. How long will a worker get if he works for how long. What will be the life of a child after the release of working life and future labor? From the accumulated anger of so many questions, there was a demand for 8 hours working day. Behind this demand was another demand – I want a wage for working 8 hours so that I can live a standard life with my family. But no matter how justified the workers’ demands may be, the conflict of profits and wages is so intense that the government and the bosses sought to suppress the movement, not through negotiations but through brutal repression and bloody bloodshed. On that day, workers gathered at market to demand eight hours of work daily. Police opened fire on the workers after an unidentified man hurled a bomb at them. As a result, about 10-12 workers and police were killed. The first congress was held in Paris in 1889, on the centenary of the French Revolution. There, Raymond Lavin proposed to celebrate the anniversary of the Chicago protests internationally in various countries from 1890 onwards.

The resolution was formally adopted by the Second Congress in 1891. This was followed by the May Day riots of 1894. Later, a resolution was adopted on this occasion at the International Conference of Socialists held in Amsterdam in 1904. The resolution called on all socialist democratic parties and trade unions (trade unions) to organize a procession on May 1 around the world to demand eight hours of daily work and to establish peace. At that conference, all trade unions around the world decided on May 1 to “not work compulsorily.” In many countries, working people demand that May 1 be observed as a public holiday, and in many countries this is effective. For a long time, socialists, communists and some extremist organizations have chosen May Day as the main day for their demands. An employer is obliged to provide practical and relevant training on the health and safety of its subordinates and to ensure a safe and healthy environment for the workers in the workplace. Providing periodic medical care to workers engaged in such hazardous work who are at risk of bodily injury, poisoning or serious illness may not be performed by them unless proven appropriate for the job. Inspectors have an important role to play in supervising and monitoring occupational health and safety.

Workers must have suitable eye protection or eye cover for eye protection where there is a risk of eye damage due to projected or scattered particles or fragments in the production process or due to excessive light or heat. Where there is a risk of physical injury, poisoning or serious illness, it is the employer’s responsibility to provide protective equipment for each worker in the event of a malicious operation. If equipment is provided for personal protection but is not used, the worker will be responsible. Although the demand for an eight-hour working day and the working environment have improved somewhat, the security and human rights of the workers in their professional life have not been achieved yet. The ongoing Corona epidemic was once again evident. May Day has been celebrated as a public holiday in Bangladesh since independence. On the occasion of the day, the President and the Prime Minister give speeches. Various governmental and non-governmental organizations carry out various programs including processions, workers’ rallies, discussion meetings, seminars, cultural programs to mark the day.

On May Day, various organizations, including political parties, trade unions and workers’ federations, held separate programs. Every year on this day workers are given free medical care. The present government is a worker friendly government. The government has taken important decisions to implement the rights of workers. As a result, workers are now much better off than at any time in the past. ‘The present government has implemented various programs to ensure friendly and good relations between employers and workers, safe working environment and social security. It is essential to pay the salaries and bonuses of the workers on time ahead of Ramadan and Eid. It is very important for the workers to be united in realizing any just demand. Bad times will not last long. Nature will be normal again; our beloved world will be safe. We have to work for the welfare of the country and the people in any situation. Workers have already lost their jobs in various countries due to fear of corona infection. Many expatriate workers have returned to the country in groups from different countries including the Middle East after losing their jobs. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. The life of these workers has come down to misery. The workers’ struggle was the hardest in Corona’s dire situation. This struggle was the struggle for survival. Many working people have already lost their jobs in the moment of financial crisis. According to statistics, millions of people will lose their jobs in the future. Terrible black days will come down in their lives.

Maintaining mutual understanding and cordiality between workers and employers is very important in the economic development of a labor-intensive developing country like Bangladesh. In the midst of this terrible crisis, there were cuts in the private sector at home and abroad. Despite calls from the government not to lay off workers, the reality was different. Faced with a terrible financial crisis, the future of the workers was uncertain. Bangladesh and the whole world were waiting to get rid of this terrible situation. The epidemic will end soon. People’s lives will be normal – this was everyone’s wish. Great May Day and its significance.

Today is the first of May. May Day is a day of signing the rights and demands of millions of working people around the world. With May Day gaining international recognition, the working class around the world has changed dramatically. The impact of this day on employer-worker relations is far-reaching. As a result, the daily working hours of the workers are reduced from 18 hours to 8 hours. Through this the workers of all the countries of the world began to get the proper status of their labor. They go ahead and assert their rights. Hardworking people begin to be liberated from their chained lives. May Day is celebrated by the workers with great enthusiasm and fervor. They organized various ceremonies in memory of their predecessors. The workers of Bangladesh celebrate the great May Day in a joyous atmosphere. The significant contribution of the historic May Day has kept today’s working class at bay. The consciousness of fighting against any injustice is now the adornment of the workers. May 1, the year of bloodshed, is now the day for everyone to take the oath of allegiance against injustice and oppression. The key to moving forward. On May Day, all working people seek to pledge to initiate developmental change by further strengthening their bonds of brotherhood.

The Writer is Deputy Registrar, Jagannath University