【Learn Chinese】The Labour Day in China

Láodòng Jié (劳动节) is known as Labor Day in Chinese. It is a public holiday celebrated on May 1st every year in China. It honors the achievements and contributions of workers across the country. With its socialist roots and focus on workers’ rights, Labor Day carries great significance in modern China.

Origins of Labor Day in Chinese
The origins of Labor Day in China can be traced back to the international labor movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During this time, socialists and communists advocated for an international Labor Day to celebrate workers and bring attention to labor issues.
The first Labor Day celebrations took place on May 1, 1890 after it was designated International Workers’ Day at the Marxist International Socialist Congress in Paris.
In China, May 1st was celebrated as Labor Day from 1922 onwards after it was adopted by the Communist Party of China. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the new government officially declared May 1st as a national public holiday called Laodong Jie.

Significance of Labor Day in Chinese
As a socialist country, Labor Day carries important symbolic meaning in China. It represents the fundamental role of China’s workers in building and sustaining the nation. Chinese leaders emphasize the significance of Labor Day in their annual addresses on this date.
Labor Day is seen as an acknowledgement of the working class as the driving force behind China’s economic development. It honors workers for their sacrifices, hard work, and dedication. The date of May 1st also connects today’s Labor Day with its historical origins in the international socialist movement.
By upholding Labor Day as a major holiday, the government affirms its socialist commitments and the right to decent working conditions, fair wages, reasonable work hours, and collective bargaining. These principles are enshrined in China’s labor laws and regulations.