With every week recently in South Africa being shortened by public holidays, it’s easy to forget why the day has become a holiday.

Today is Workers’ Day and has been a public holiday here since the elections in 1994. It is not a purely South African holiday, but is known around the world as International Workers’ Day, Labour Day or May Day.

According to CapeTownMagazine.com, the day observes the struggles of workers and trade unions to wage for workers’ rights and fair employment standards. In a South African context the day offers a reminder of the poverty and hardships many South African workers currently experience, and focuses on the democratic struggle to gear away from the racism entrenched by Apartheid, and for a united nation overall.

If you would like to read a bit about the history of May Day and its festivities around the world, please click here.