International Labour Day: More uncertainty for workers after coronavirus time?

It's the first of May! In other words, today is the International Workers Day.The day is dedicated to workers worldwide and centuries of labour struggles against exploitation.

Workers' rights have come a long way since the days when people had to work for 16 hours a day and there was no concept of a weekend.

In 1886, workers used to work for 15 hours daily which triggered a massive protest in Chicago, On May 4,thousands of workers assembledfor a peaceful rally in Chicagowith a single demand, 8-hour work shift.

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The protests were marred by violence as some protesters threw a dynamite bomb at the police. In the incident, seven police officers and four civilians died.

Three- years later, international groups and trade unions designated May 1 as the International Labour Day. It was in commemoration of the workers and the Haymarket riot

For years, the day has been marked with celebrations and protests. But, 2020 came to be an exception as workers this year are fighting a bigger battle.

Today, there is no question of an 8-hour workday or a 48-hour-work-week.

Workers worldwide are fighting for survival due to the coronavirus pandemic. The outbreak has left millions of people around the world jobless and vulnerable.

According to the latest figures by the US Labour Department, 30 million Americans have sought unemployment benefit in the last six weeks.

Such numbers haven't been seen since the great depression of the 1930s.

The situation is no different in India.

As per reports, 80% of the country's workforce is engaged in the informal sector.

Since the coronavirus lockdown, labour participation has dropped to 35.4%. At least 7.2% of the working-age population have quit the labour market in the last couple of weeks.

Data suggests that 40 crore Indians are at the risk of falling deeper into poverty.

Worldwide, 1.6 billion workers have their livelihood at stake. This is almost half of the global workforce, according tothe International Labour Organisation figures.

That said, it is only fair to note that the pandemic has hit workers across sectors the hardest.

There are mass lay-offs and pay-cuts in the formal sector too. Governments are protecting locals first and mulling handing pink slips to foreign workers.

The Wuhan virus has triggered a humanitarian crisis and when the coronavirus battle ends the world will have to fight the unemployment pandemic coupled with shrinking economies, recession and an uncertain future.

There will be millions of workers shouting Mayday Mayday Mayday!!