The International Labour Day also referred to as the May Day is celebrated annually on the 1^st of May as an honour for the enormous effort extended by the working class and it is a significant reminder of the rights, opportunities and to safeguard workers against exploitation. 

Labour is the most unique and lively factor among the four factors of production which also includes land, capital, and entrepreneurship. This is because of a number of diverse reasons, and a few are mentioned below.

• Perishable in nature: This means that labour cannot be stored, and it is utilized at that very moment.
• Inseparable from the Labourer: Physical presence of the labourer is mandatory in order to gain effort and service.
• Human effort: This is a major factor for labour to be unique and hence it must be organized with much attention and importance.
• Labour is Heterogeneous: Each and every labourer is unique and consists of different labour powers. Hence the efforts and skills are not uniform.

Above are a few of the reasons why labour is different and special among the production factors, but the most important of all. Every labourer is human and without the touch of mankind, any machine will only be of metal and plastic. 

“One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man.”
– Elbert Hubbard –

Labour leads to the development of a nation as it is the basis of the distribution of national income among all factors. On this May Day as we celebrate workers, let us also focus on their rights of them to upgrade the working conditions of employees.

In the Sri Lankan context, the Shop and Office Employees (Regulation of Employment and Remuneration) Act No 19 of 1954 is the act written about the labour laws in Sri Lanka. Under the rights of the employees below are major segments to which immense attention is given to.

1. Minimum age of employment 
2. Minimum wages 
3. Regulation of hours of employment 
4. Holidays 
5. Meals 
6. Sanitary and washing facilities 
7. Maintaining records
8. Maternity benefits 
9. Payments

Accordingly, each and every country is bound to pay special attention to its workers who are pillars of economic development.

“All wealth is the product of labor.”
– John Locke –

On this International Labour Day let us stand for the welfare and betterment of the global workforce who thrive to build a strong tomorrow for themselves, their families and the nation by investing their untiring efforts and unwavering commitment.

“It is labor indeed that puts the difference on everything.”
– John Locke –