Labour Day in Australia 2023: Date, History, Facts about The Eight-Hour Movement

Labor Day in Australia, whose origins can be traced to the eight-hour day movement, is observed on various dates in different states. It is observed annually on the first Monday of October, which falls on October 2 this year, in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, and South Australia. Northern Territory and Queensland observe it on the first Monday of May, while Tasmania and Victoria observe it on the second Monday of March. Did you know that Australian workers were the first to accomplish a reduction in working hours without a reduction in pay? Inspiring employees in other nations, including the United States, to campaign for shorter hours, Australia’s eight-hour movement ultimately led to the establishment of International employees Day.

The background of Labour Day

Australian employees fought for fairer working conditions in order to establish Labour Day. It recognizes the importance of empowering employees, who are the backbone of any economy. Labour Day is an umbrella term for the various days in Australia that commemorate the fight for reduced working hours.

The origins of Labor Day can be traced back to the 1800s, when some employees were required to work nearly 12 hours per day and had only one day off per week. On April 21, 1856, University of Melbourne stonemasons protested for an eight-hour workday by putting down their tools and marching to the Parliament House. That led to employers agreeing to a 48-hour week, and a victory march was conducted on May 12, 1856, marking a start to the first Labour Day celebration.

Between 1856 and 1879, a number of jurisdictions in Australia adopted an eight-hour workday regulation. Each of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria has its own Labor Day celebration day.

Some Australian jurisdictions moved Labour Day from May to the second Monday of March after World War II. This commemorated the day on which the majority of Western Australian employees were granted eight-hour workdays. But Queensland employees advocated for it to be observed on May 1 so that they could participate in the international campaign to make May 1 the official International employees Day. This resulted in the first May Day parade in Australia on May 1, 1891, with over 1,000 individuals participating.

Labour Day ceremonies are still done every year around March, May, and October to appreciate the unions’ struggles for every Australian worker. This day is also a public holiday, so employees are given the day off.

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5 Interesting Facts Concerning the Eight-Hour Movement

Seeing the success of the eight-hour movement in Australia, 200,000 American employees also protested for an eight-hour day by quitting their jobs.

The execution of four American employees as a result of the Haymarket bombing prompted the International Working Men’s Association and Australian labor unions to promote international May Day.

The majority of those who benefited from the early successes of the eight-hour movement were union members.

Since 1976, union membership in Australia has decreased by one million, according to the Australian parliament.

Despite the success of the eight-hour movement, working hours have increased over time, and technology has made it possible to work from home.

LABOUR DAY DATES