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LABOUR DAY

When is Labour Day in 2023?

Labour Day in 2023 is on the Monday, 2nd of Oct (10/02/2023).

Labour Day is on the 275rd day of 2023. There are 90 days left in the year.

Labour Day Facts

  • Date: Oct 02, 2023
  • 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 2023

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
SundaySunJan 01, 2023Jan 01New Year's Day
MondayMonJan 02, 2023Jan 02New Year's Day Holiday
ThursdayThuJan 26, 2023Jan 26Australia Day
MondayMonMar 06, 2023Mar 06Labour Day (WA)
MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13Labour Day (VIC)
MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13Eight Hours Day (TAS)
MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13Canberra Day (ACT)
FridayFriApr 07, 2023Apr 07Good Friday
SundaySunApr 09, 2023Apr 09Easter Sunday
MondayMonApr 10, 2023Apr 10Easter Monday
TuesdayTueApr 25, 2023Apr 25Anzac Day
MondayMonMay 01, 2023May 01May Day (NT)
MondayMonJun 05, 2023Jun 05Western Australia Day (WA)
MondayMonJun 12, 2023Jun 12Queen's Birthday (Most region)
MondayMonAug 07, 2023Aug 07Picnic Day (NT)
MondayMonSep 25, 2023Sep 25Queen's Birthday (WA)
MondayMonOct 02, 2023Oct 02Queen's Birthday (QLD)
MondayMonOct 02, 2023Oct 02Labour Day (Most Region)
MondayMonDec 25, 2023Dec 25Christmas Day
TuesdayTueDec 26, 2023Dec 26Boxing Day
SundaySunDec 31, 2023Dec 31New Year's Eve

List of Popular Celebration Days of United States in 2023

DAYDATEHOLIDAY
ThursdayThuJan 12, 2023Jan 12National Pharmacists Day
ThursdayThuJan 19, 2023Jan 19National Popcorn Day
WednesdayWedFeb 01, 2023Feb 01National Signing Day
ThursdayThuFeb 02, 2023Feb 02Groundhog Day
FridayFriFeb 03, 2023Feb 03National Wear Red Day
ThursdayThuFeb 09, 2023Feb 09National Pizza Day
MondayMonFeb 13, 2023Feb 13Galentine's Day
TuesdayTueFeb 14, 2023Feb 14Valentine's Day
WednesdayWedFeb 15, 2023Feb 15National Bagel Day
SaturdaySatFeb 18, 2023Feb 18National Drink Wine Day
TuesdayTueFeb 21, 2023Feb 21National Pancake Day
WednesdayWedFeb 22, 2023Feb 22National Margarita Day
FridayFriMar 03, 2023Mar 03National Employee Appreciation Day
TuesdayTueMar 07, 2023Mar 07National Cereal Day
SundaySunMar 12, 2023Mar 12Daylight savings
MondayMonMar 13, 2023Mar 13National Napping Day
TuesdayTueMar 14, 2023Mar 14National Walkout Day
TuesdayTueMar 14, 2023Mar 14National Pi Day
MondayMonMar 20, 2023Mar 20National Proposal Day
ThursdayThuMar 23, 2023Mar 23National Puppy Day
ThursdayThuMar 30, 2023Mar 30National Doctor Day
WednesdayWedApr 05, 2023Apr 05National Walking Day
ThursdayThuApr 06, 2023Apr 06National Burrito Day
FridayFriApr 07, 2023Apr 07National Beer Day
TuesdayTueApr 11, 2023Apr 11National Pet Day
WednesdayWedApr 12, 2023Apr 12National Grilled Cheese Day
ThursdayThuMay 04, 2023May 04National Day Of Prayer
SundaySunMay 14, 2023May 14Mother's Day
ThursdayThuMay 25, 2023May 25National Towel Day
ThursdayThuMay 25, 2023May 25National Wine Day
FridayFriJun 02, 2023Jun 02National Donut Day
ThursdayThuJun 08, 2023Jun 08National Best Friends Day
SundaySunJun 18, 2023Jun 18Father's Day
WednesdayWedJun 21, 2023Jun 21National Selfie Day
ThursdayThuJun 22, 2023Jun 22National Kissing Day
ThursdayThuJul 13, 2023Jul 13National French Fry Day
FridayFriJul 14, 2023Jul 14National Nude Day
SundaySunJul 16, 2023Jul 16National Ice Cream Day
WednesdayWedJul 19, 2023Jul 19National Hot Dog Day
SundaySunJul 23, 2023Jul 23Amazon Prime Day
MondayMonJul 24, 2023Jul 24National Tequila Day
SaturdaySatJul 29, 2023Jul 29National Chicken Wing Day
TuesdayTueAug 01, 2023Aug 01National Girlfriends Day
SundaySunAug 06, 2023Aug 06National Sister Day
MondayMonSep 18, 2023Sep 18National Cheeseburger Day
TuesdayTueOct 03, 2023Oct 03National Boyfriends Day
WednesdayWedOct 04, 2023Oct 04National Vodka Day
WednesdayWedOct 04, 2023Oct 04National Taco Day
MondayMonOct 09, 2023Oct 09Leif Erikson Day
SaturdaySatOct 21, 2023Oct 21Sweetest Day
SundaySunOct 29, 2023Oct 29National Cat Day
TuesdayTueOct 31, 2023Oct 31Halloween
FridayFriNov 03, 2023Nov 03National Sandwich Day
FridayFriNov 24, 2023Nov 24Black Friday
MondayMonNov 27, 2023Nov 27Cyber Monday
SaturdaySatDec 02, 2023Dec 02Candle Day
SaturdaySatDec 09, 2023Dec 09National Pastry Day
FridayFriDec 15, 2023Dec 15National Ugly Sweater day