Today, May 1st, the world commemorates International Labour Day 2025, also known as May Day—a global tribute to the working class, whose relentless commitment continues to build economies, drive industries, and shape the foundation of human society. Observed in over 80 countries, the day is more than a public holiday—it is a testament to the historical and ongoing struggles for fair treatment, equitable pay, safe working conditions, and social justice.
The Historical Pulse Behind May Day
Labour Day traces its origins to the labour movement in the United States in the late 19th century. On May 1, 1886, thousands of workers staged a peaceful strike demanding an eight-hour workday. What began as a unified call for reform turned tragic with the Haymarket Affair in Chicago, where a bomb blast claimed the lives of several police officers and civilians. Despite the violence, this pivotal moment birthed a global movement advocating for labour rights.
In India, the first Labour Day was observed in Chennai in 1923, led by Malayapuram Singaravelu Chettiar of the Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan. Today, the day is recognised across Indian states as Kamgar Din, highlighting the nation’s continued commitment to social justice and the dignity of work.
Labour Day 2025: A Call for Peace, Stability, and Decent Work
This year, under the theme “Striving for Peace and Stability to Drive Industrialisation, Trade, and Decent Work for Social Justice,” countries across West Africa are observing Workers’ Day amidst growing calls for economic and structural reforms.
While parades, speeches, and marches paint a festive atmosphere in many cities, this year’s celebration carries an urgent message—particularly for the media industry, a sector grappling with systemic neglect and economic hardship. In a bold statement released yesterday the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) spotlighted the deteriorating working conditions for journalists, echoing the core message of this year’s Workers’ Day theme.
Journalism in Peril: A Crisis in the Fourth Estate
A 2023 joint study by the MFWA and the University of Ghana’s Department of Communication Studies painted a grim picture of the media landscape in Ghana—one that reflects a wider regional crisis. Journalists face paltry wages, little to no job security, inadequate health coverage, and shrinking career opportunities as media houses downsize or shut down due to declining revenue.
This troubling trend is not limited to Ghana. Across West Africa’s 16 nations, media professionals continue to work under precarious conditions, despite their essential role in upholding democracy, transparency, and public accountability.
Empowering Media for a Just Society
The MFWA’s position is clear: ensuring decent working conditions for journalists is not only a matter of fairness but a cornerstone of democratic governance. In the age of rampant misinformation, disinformation, and political instability, empowering journalists to do their job without fear or deprivation is more critical than ever.
The Foundation has called on:
- Governments to support the media with equitable public advertising placements and policy reforms.
- Civil society organisations to continue advocacy for journalists’ rights and to strengthen initiatives like WANAMDEL and the NGIJ Fellowships.
- Media owners to innovate and diversify revenue sources, leveraging digital platforms for content monetisation to improve sustainability and staff welfare.
A Shared Responsibility
As workers across various sectors commemorate this day, the plight of journalists must not be overlooked. Their struggles—mirroring those of millions of workers globally—are rooted in the same desire: a dignified life, a fair wage, and a safe environment in which to thrive.
International Labour Day is not just a celebration of work—it is a clarion call to action. It reminds us that the rights we enjoy today were hard-won through solidarity, sacrifice, and relentless advocacy.
In honouring workers, let us also recommit to building a just society where no profession, especially one as vital as journalism, is left behind.
Nzubechukwu Eze.
