Labor Day – May 1, 2024

Labor Day is a moment to remember the long struggle of workers to achieve their rights. Celebrated every May 1 throughout the world, Labor Day has its own meaning behind the festive celebrations. The messages contained when this day arrives include heroic stories about sacrifice, solidarity and the determination of workers to achieve a more just and prosperous life.

The historical roots of Labor Day begin with the labor movement in the United States at the end of the 19th century. At that time, workers worked in poor conditions with long hours and low wages. In 1886, workers in Chicago staged a massive strike that led to the Haymarket tragedy, where a group of workers and police clashed. The Haymarket incident was an important turning point in the history of the labor movement. In 1889, the Second International Congress in Paris designated May 1 as International Workers' Day to commemorate the struggle of workers in Chicago and throughout the world.

Meanwhile, the history of Labor Day in Indonesia begins with the Dutch colonial period. At that time, workers worked in very poor conditions with long working hours, minimal wages, and minimal job safety guarantees.

Labor Day, which is celebrated every May 1, is not just a holiday, but a special moment to remember the long history of workers' struggles throughout the world. In various countries, Labor Day is marked by unique and interesting traditions that reflect the spirit of unity, solidarity and determination of workers in fighting for their rights.

In various countries, Labor Day is celebrated with various traditions and rituals, such as:

• Labor March: Workers from various sectors marched in the streets to show their strength and solidarity.

• Speeches and Orations: Labor leaders delivered speeches and orations to raise fighting spirit and remind the importance of workers' struggle.

• Tribute Ceremony: A memorial service was held to remember the laborers who fell in the struggle.

• Festivals and Entertainment: Various entertainment and celebration activities are held to enliven Labor Day.

In Indonesia, Labor Day is celebrated with various activities, such as seminars, discussions and demonstrations. In some areas, Labor Day is also a moment to hold arts and cultural performances. In Jakarta itself, the center of Labor Day celebrations is usually at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK). Thousands of workers from various regions gathered there to take part in demonstrations, seminars and discussions.

Because it is a national holiday, people who go outside during the Labor Day holiday are not only workers but also the general public. Coupled with time off for public holidays, many people take advantage of this red date to travel to tourist destinations outside the city such as Bandung, Yogyakarta and Surabaya.

Labor Day is not only a celebration and national holiday, but also an important moment to remember the struggle of workers and continue their struggle to achieve a more just and prosperous life. For those of you who want to provide support for the workers' struggle, there are many ideas and activities that you can do during Labor Day. For example, taking part in labor marches, seminar discussions, or watching documentaries.

Usually, many companies or tourist attractions also participate in celebrating Labor Day by offering attractive offers on this special day. Not only discounts at restaurants and fashion products, several tourist attractions also charge low prices for entry tickets and are even free. For those in Jakarta, visit destinations such as Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, Pulau Seribu, or play in Kota Tua.

You can also take advantage of the holiday time along with Labor Day to get more time. You can visit several cities such as Puncak Bogor, Bandung, Yogyakarta, even Malang. There are many interesting places such as Lembang Park & ​​Zoo, Orchid Forest Cikole, Jatim Park 1, and even enjoying the interesting rides at Batu Night Spectacular.

Taking advantage of the holiday on Labor Day can be an opportunity for your busy time but you still want to gather with your family or just heal from the hustle and bustle of your daily activities. To make it easier to access several tourist attractions, it might be better to stay at a nearby hotel or inn to make your holiday more efficient.