Taking advantage of Labor Day to boost employee morale, organisational brand

Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU-K) Secretary General Francis Atwoli (centre) with his Deputy Benson Okwaro (left) and Chairman General Joel Chebii (right) consult at Solidarity Building, Nairobi on April 26, 2025 during their meeting with Union's Secretary Generals and Stewards ahead of May 1st Labour day celebration. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Today is Labour Day, also referred to as International Workers' Day or May Day.

Labour Day honours the contribution and achievements of workers. It can be traced back to the Haymarket Affair of 1886-an event in Chicago where workers demanded an eight-hour workday, down from twelve, in the United States. The Socialist Congress meeting of 1889 in Paris is credited with giving the day global recognition.