The labor from which capital is formed is the surplus labor of the worker, and from labor itself the process of capital formation continues unabated. But it is suitable for the labor that creates capital. It also involves struggle as there is no reward. Intertwined with the above relationship between labor and capital is the history of Labor Day, which is celebrated annually on May 1 as International Labor Day. Originally May 1, 1886, in Chicago, USA, eight labor leaders were hanged in an unprecedented uprising of workers’ anger to demand an 8-hour workday. Paying homage to those martyrs on May 1 for the establishment of the human dignity of labour, we express our solidarity and resolve for future struggle against the machinations of profiteering from capital. He reiterates his resolve to realize an exploitation-free society.
May 1st is a day of unity of the working class regardless of religion, apartheid, region, caste, gender identity, a day that binds the working class of the world in one thread and is determined to liberate human labor from all forms of exploitation and restore the dignity of labour. The invention of the energy of struggle is Labor Day.
Today, there is great resentment in all sub-continents, including the developed countries of Europe. The burden of the crisis on workers is increasing, the cost of living and declining employment opportunities have worsened the situation. In public and private sectors such as railways, communication transport, banks, aviation, energy, health, mining, etc., agitations are seen against alleged reforms, strikes and work suspensions etc., imposed on the system due to labor cuts due to privatization. Due to privatization in India even middle class bank employees have to go on strike etc. at national level. In the guise of reforming labor laws, Parliament has enacted labor codes, ignoring fundamental labor laws. Under this statutory provisions like eight hours working day, industrial safety, minimum wages, equal pay for equal work, layoffs, service security rules are now disappearing. The unprecedented solidarity shown by workers across all sectors in Delhi on April 5 only confirms the deepening discontent India ranks among the countries with the highest economic inequality gap in the world.
The rapid process of globalization of nearly three decades has brought new challenges to the working class as the mode of production has changed. The production process has now assumed a multinational form, breaking down national boundaries. If workers in one country challenge the corporate rate of profit by struggling on their just issues, they have the easy option of moving production to another country. Therefore, it has become more necessary to move towards labor solidarity at the global level.
In fact, finance capital actually owns a very large portion of the world’s gross product today, and it continues to grow. Finance capital is notorious for its volatility, profiting around the world in the form of speculation and futures trading rather than industrial or bank-based capital. That capitalist can relocate anywhere in search of cheap wages and corporate friendly governance. The neoliberal system completely exempts the corporate but does not show generosity to the workers. Thus the situation is exacerbated by the irrelevance of labor rights recognized by the International Labor Organization in the context of organization and collective bargaining.
The safety of service sector workers is such that over a thousand youths have died while cleaning drains in India in the last five years. Do policymakers have an answer to these deaths in today’s age? This is an important question and due to the huge changes in the production system, not only the working class but the entire society has to face such new challenges.
Today, women and youth are among the classes that have lost employment, the unemployment situation in rural areas is getting serious. The existence of landless elements is threatened. Sincere efforts are needed as there is no possibility of solving the economic crisis without raising the minimum income of the people and increasing their purchasing power
Vikas Parasram Meshram is a journalist
