ILES Labour Day Message — 2025

The theme for May Day this year, 2025, is: "Workers’ Rights Are Human Rights". The theme emphasises the fundamental principle that the rights of workers should be recognised and upheld alongside other human rights. This concept recognises that the dignity, safety and well-being of workers are integral to the broader human-rights framework.

The May Day celebrations are always a gentle reminder of the Haymarket Square riot of 4 May 1886 in Chicago. The event shaped the history of labour, as it had lasting implications for workers’ rights and the labour movement in the United States of America and beyond.

It would be rather amiss for us not to recognise the historical significance of this day as we congratulate the two national trade union federations — the Botswana Federation of Trade Unions (BFTU) and the Botswana Federation of Public, Private and Parastatal Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) — for once again jointly commemorating May Day. We congratulate them for being true to the old adage in labour: united we stand, divided we fall.

The Haymarket Square riot brought national attention to the labour movement’s struggles, particularly the demand for an eight-hour workday. It highlighted the harsh working conditions and long hours many workers faced, galvanising public support for labour rights. Although change was gradual, the heightened awareness of labour issues that followed contributed to changes in labour laws and regulations — including improved safety standards and the eventual establishment of the eight-hour workday in various industries. Dr Martin Luther King Jr reminds us that "the labour movement was the principal force that transformed misery and despair into hope and progress."

And so, just as it was in Chicago in 1886, so it is in Botswana in 2025. The truth is that the civil and political rights enshrined in our constitution cannot be enjoyed with dignity without workers’ rights. How can one enjoy the right to life without the means to enjoy that life? The means come from decent work. How can one enjoy freedom of association without the right to collective bargaining in the same constitution? The right to join trade unions only makes sense if the normal functions of the trade union movement are recognised.

We note that BFTU and BOFEPUSU have been at the forefront of lobbying government to ratify C-190. This is an important step. The workplace should be a place that is safe from bullying and other forms of harassment. When this right is upheld in Botswana, it is our sincere hope that productivity will improve once the workplace is safe. This is just the latest example of how workers’ rights are human rights.

Work is an essential aspect of human life that contributes to an individual’s identity and dignity. Recognising workers’ rights affirms that every person deserves respect and fair treatment in their work environment. Labour rights are critical in fighting inequality and ensuring justice; when they are upheld, they contribute to a more equitable society where all individuals can enjoy similar benefits and protections.

The theme "Workers’ Rights Are Human Rights" serves as a powerful reminder that ensuring dignity, respect and protection for all workers is essential for the advancement of human rights universally. Upholding these rights fosters not only better conditions for individuals but also contributes to societal progress, equity and justice.