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LABOUR DAY

When is Labour Day in 2024?

Labour Day in 2024 is on the Monday, 7th of Oct (10/07/2024).

Labour Day is on the 281th day of 2024. There are 85 days left in the year.

Labour Day Facts

  • Date: Oct 07, 2024
  • National
  • Also Called: May Day, Eight Hours Day
  • Celebrations: Celebrations: Parades, relaxing, barbeque, wine tasting
Labour Day iImage Credit: Flickr

Some states of Australia call it May Day, Eight Hours Day while most people refer it to Labour Day. The public day celebrates the granting of eight-hour working day for the people of Australia in the 19th century. The eight hour day rule was based on the need for every Australian to have eight hours of labour, eight hours of recreation and eight hours of rest.

History of Labour Day

Labour Day in Australia dates back to the 19th century. During the mid-1800s, workers in Australia were subjected to long working hours of up to 12 hours, six days a week. Many Australians were not happy with this, and they started pushing for better working conditions.

On April 21, 1850, some stone masons marched to the parliament building where they demanded for an eight-hour working day. The march bore fruits and employers agreed to a 48-hour weekly system. A victory march was conducted on May 12, 1950, to celebrate the milestone. The new work regulations became law in 1856 in the state of New South Wales, Queensland in 1858, South Australia implemented it in 1873 while Tasmania embraced the law in 1874.

In 1879, the Victorian government bettered the conditions of workers by proclaiming a paid holiday that year.

The first and largest Labour Day event was held in Queensland on May 1, 1891, and over 1000 people participated in the march.

When Is Labour Day Celebrated On Different States?

Western Australia celebrates Labour Day on the first Monday in March. Victoria and Tasmania mark the holiday on the second Monday in March. The Northern Territory observes Labour Day on the first Monday in May. The state of Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia, and New South Wales observe this day on the first Monday of October. Queensland, however, used to celebrate Labour Day on the first Monday in May and only switched dates in the year 2012.

Tasmania refers to this holiday as Eight Hours Day while the Northern territory calls it May Day. The other states simply call it Labour Day.

Why Do The Australian States Celebrate Labour Day On Different Days?

The Australian states and territories adopted the Eight-hour working day on different dates. Again, the public day is individually declared by each of the states and therefore not a uniform national holiday.

Is The Eight-Hour Working Day Still Practiced Today?

Although the eight-hour working day is still enshrined in the Australian system, most workers regularly work beyond the 9-5pm work day. At the time of hiring most employers clearly state to their workers that they can be asked to work longer in some circumstances. However, overtime hours are only granted if there is no risk of health and safety to the employee, the need of workforce, enough notice of the overtime necessity among other conditions.

How to Celebrate Labour Day

Labour Day is usually part of a long weekend and therefore an opportunity for you to relax, have barbeques, spend time with family, plan a getaway, go for a picnic or engage in sporting activities.

The holiday is also marked with parades and marches led by political figures. Union members also take part in these marches as they address various labour issues for the Australian workers.

It is also a great time to go wine tasting. Adelaide is home to some of the best wineries such as Barossa, Clare, McClaren Vale, and Adelaide Hills. Most of these wineries offer free wine tasting.

Why Celebrate Labour Day?

Labour Day commemorates the adoption of shorter working hours for the Australian workers. It is also a celebration for better working conditions such as sick offs, holiday leave and job security. Although all these were not granted at the same time, the hard work of workers unions has been evident over the years. By celebrating Labour Day, we appreciate the struggles of the workers in the previous century into receiving favourable working conditions for the future generations.

Labour Day Observances

DAY
DATE
HOLIDAY NAME

List of National and Regional Public Holidays of Australia in 2024

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
MondayMonJan 01, 2024Jan 01New Year's Day
FridayFriJan 26, 2024Jan 26Australia Day
MondayMonMar 04, 2024Mar 04Labour Day (WA)
MondayMonMar 11, 2024Mar 11Canberra Day (ACT)
MondayMonMar 11, 2024Mar 11Eight Hours Day (TAS)
MondayMonMar 11, 2024Mar 11Labour Day (VIC)
FridayFriMar 29, 2024Mar 29Good Friday
SundaySunMar 31, 2024Mar 31Easter Sunday
MondayMonApr 01, 2024Apr 01Easter Monday
ThursdayThuApr 25, 2024Apr 25Anzac Day
MondayMonMay 06, 2024May 06May Day (NT)
MondayMonJun 03, 2024Jun 03Western Australia Day (WA)
MondayMonJun 10, 2024Jun 10King's Birthday (Most region)
MondayMonAug 05, 2024Aug 05Picnic Day (NT)
WednesdayWedSep 25, 2024Sep 25King's Birthday (WA)
MondayMonOct 07, 2024Oct 07Labour Day (Most Region)
MondayMonOct 07, 2024Oct 07King's Birthday (QLD)
WednesdayWedDec 25, 2024Dec 25Christmas Day
ThursdayThuDec 26, 2024Dec 26Boxing Day
TuesdayTueDec 31, 2024Dec 31New Year's Eve

List of Popular Celebration Days of United States in 2024

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
FridayFriJan 12, 2024Jan 12National Pharmacists Day
FridayFriJan 19, 2024Jan 19National Popcorn Day
FridayFriFeb 02, 2024Feb 02Groundhog Day
FridayFriFeb 02, 2024Feb 02National Wear Red Day
WednesdayWedFeb 07, 2024Feb 07National Signing Day
FridayFriFeb 09, 2024Feb 09National Pizza Day
TuesdayTueFeb 13, 2024Feb 13Galentine's Day
TuesdayTueFeb 13, 2024Feb 13National Pancake Day
WednesdayWedFeb 14, 2024Feb 14Valentine's Day
ThursdayThuFeb 15, 2024Feb 15National Bagel Day
SundaySunFeb 18, 2024Feb 18National Drink Wine Day
ThursdayThuFeb 22, 2024Feb 22National Margarita Day
ThursdayThuFeb 29, 2024Feb 29Leap Day
FridayFriMar 01, 2024Mar 01National Employee Appreciation Day
ThursdayThuMar 07, 2024Mar 07National Cereal Day
SundaySunMar 10, 2024Mar 10Daylight savings
MondayMonMar 11, 2024Mar 11National Napping Day
ThursdayThuMar 14, 2024Mar 14National Walkout Day
ThursdayThuMar 14, 2024Mar 14National Pi Day
WednesdayWedMar 20, 2024Mar 20National Proposal Day
SaturdaySatMar 23, 2024Mar 23National Puppy Day
SaturdaySatMar 30, 2024Mar 30National Doctor Day
WednesdayWedApr 03, 2024Apr 03National Walking Day
ThursdayThuApr 04, 2024Apr 04National Burrito Day
SundaySunApr 07, 2024Apr 07National Beer Day
ThursdayThuApr 11, 2024Apr 11National Pet Day
FridayFriApr 12, 2024Apr 12National Grilled Cheese Day
ThursdayThuMay 02, 2024May 02National Day Of Prayer
SundaySunMay 12, 2024May 12Mother's Day
SaturdaySatMay 25, 2024May 25National Towel Day
SaturdaySatMay 25, 2024May 25National Wine Day
FridayFriJun 07, 2024Jun 07National Donut Day
SaturdaySatJun 08, 2024Jun 08National Best Friends Day
SundaySunJun 16, 2024Jun 16Father's Day
FridayFriJun 21, 2024Jun 21National Selfie Day
SaturdaySatJun 22, 2024Jun 22National Kissing Day
SaturdaySatJul 13, 2024Jul 13National French Fry Day
SundaySunJul 14, 2024Jul 14National Nude Day
WednesdayWedJul 17, 2024Jul 17National Hot Dog Day
SundaySunJul 21, 2024Jul 21National Ice Cream Day
TuesdayTueJul 23, 2024Jul 23Amazon Prime Day
WednesdayWedJul 24, 2024Jul 24National Tequila Day
MondayMonJul 29, 2024Jul 29National Chicken Wing Day
ThursdayThuAug 01, 2024Aug 01National Girlfriends Day
SundaySunAug 04, 2024Aug 04National Sister Day
WednesdayWedSep 18, 2024Sep 18National Cheeseburger Day
ThursdayThuOct 03, 2024Oct 03National Boyfriends Day
FridayFriOct 04, 2024Oct 04National Vodka Day
FridayFriOct 04, 2024Oct 04National Taco Day
WednesdayWedOct 09, 2024Oct 09Leif Erikson Day
SaturdaySatOct 19, 2024Oct 19Sweetest Day
TuesdayTueOct 29, 2024Oct 29National Cat Day
ThursdayThuOct 31, 2024Oct 31Halloween
SundaySunNov 03, 2024Nov 03National Sandwich Day
FridayFriNov 29, 2024Nov 29Black Friday
MondayMonDec 02, 2024Dec 02Cyber Monday
SaturdaySatDec 07, 2024Dec 07Candle Day
MondayMonDec 09, 2024Dec 09National Pastry Day
FridayFriDec 20, 2024Dec 20National Ugly Sweater day