International Workers’ Day, marked globally on May 1st, commemorates the labor movement’s history and its ongoing efforts to secure workers’ rights. The date honors the 1886 protests in the United States, where workers demanded better conditions. These protests resulted in violent clashes and even death sentences for some demonstrators. However, organized labor actions began even earlier.

In Albania, May 1st was first observed in 1905, while the country was still under Ottoman rule. According to Stilian Adhami’s 1969 publication Chronicle of the Labor and Trade Union Movement in Albania, a group of workers and youth in Shkodër gathered near the Mesi Bridge for a demonstration and a picnic to mark the international day. Adhami described the event as more than a simple picnic, calling it the beginning of a broader movement for social liberation. Participants gave speeches and discussed workers’ rights and the significance of the international labor movement. This event, which included dockworkers and shoemakers, is recognized as the first May 1st celebration in Albania. Although modest in size, it laid the groundwork for labor solidarity. Notably, workers’ strikes and demands had already emerged in Albania prior to this date.

During the 1905 demonstration, Shkodër workers organized a strike and set up pickets in the main streets. Adhami notes that 60 workers took part in the action. Another May 1st gathering followed in 1907, again in Shkodër. Demonstrators wore red scarves and red flowers on their jackets and carried a floral sign reading “May 1st.” Many participants traveled to Bardhaj, outside the city, for a celebratory gathering. Eyewitness accounts confirm the event, and similar celebrations soon spread to other Albanian cities.

After Albania’s independence and during King Zog’s rule, May 1st continued to be commemorated, though mostly in secret due to the political climate. Under the communist regime, the date was elevated to a national holiday. The regime declared that workers had already achieved their rights, removing the need for protests or strikes. May 1st in communist Albania became a highly organized celebration known as the “Day of the Working Class.”

Large-scale parades took place across the country, with the most prominent held in Tirana’s Skanderbeg Square. The leadership of the Albanian Party of Labour stood on the platform in front of Hotel Dajti to greet the marchers. Workers, students, soldiers, and schoolchildren paraded in front of the platform in displays of national unity. These state-managed events celebrated the so-called achievements of the Party and its leader Enver Hoxha, portraying them as the driving force of national progress. The day typically ended with festivities in schools, cooperatives, and workplaces, often recognizing the “Model Worker of the Year.” May 1st, once a day of protest, had become a propaganda instrument.

Today, May 1st in Albania is a legal public holiday and increasingly a time to reflect on labor issues such as wage fairness, workplace safety, and job security. Despite some progress, Albania continues to struggle with high levels of informality in the labor market. According to the National Strategy for Employment and Skills, around one-third of workers do not declare their full income. In response, the government has raised penalties for businesses that underreport employee wages. The informal economy continues to challenge tax collection and social protection efforts. The government is currently implementing the second phase of its strategy to combat wage informality.

Workplace safety remains another critical issue. Albanian law requires employers to reduce professional risks, train employees, and ensure safe working environments. Nonetheless, enforcement is inconsistent. Construction remains one of the most dangerous sectors. In 2023, ten workers died on construction sites, compared to six in 2021. The mining and manufacturing sectors each recorded five fatalities last year.

Low wages also remain a major concern. To address this, the government has launched a wage reform initiative, aiming to raise the average public sector salary to over €900 by the end of 2024. This reform is expected to have a positive impact on private sector salaries as well.

Although for decades May 1st in Albania has been treated mainly as a day off, recent years have seen a revival of its original purpose: a day of protest and union action. Increasingly, Albanian workers use the occasion to demand safe workplaces, fair compensation, and legal protections. The original spirit of May 1st—rooted in solidarity and resistance—remains essential for confronting the country’s current labor challenges.

-RTI-