May 1 was just another hard day for many

By Nayak Paudel Kathmandu, May 2: May 1 celebrates the contribution of labours annually as it marks the International Labour Day. On its 133rd anniversary this year, Nepal also held several celebrations on the day, which is also known as Majdur Diwas in the country.

The Nepal Trade Union Congress, General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions and Joint Trade Union Coordination Centre, among others, had organised different rallies and programmes to mark the day.

While the programmes had good number of participants, many individuals were seen busy in their respective works across the country, including the Valley.

Krishna Sharma, a 56-year-old, was busy working in the construction of a house at Sallaghari, Bhaktapur, on Sunday. He had five other friends who were working alongside.

“We had a small chat on the ‘labour day’ today when we arrived at around 9:30 am at the construction site. We started working after some minutes. If it can be called a celebration, we celebrated the day which is said to be ours today,” said Sharma, a permanent resident of Siraha who has been in the Valley as physical labourer for over 30 years now.

May 1 is also declared as a public holiday by the government of Nepal. 

Meanwhile, as soon as Sharma finished talking, a labourer at the site shouted from the backside, “Yes, we are celebrating since we are working as labours on the Labour Day.”

According to the labour, who identified himself as Sharmila Rai, a 37-year-old, the day is celebrated by bosses, not the workers. “Our contractor is on a holiday today because he needed to attend some programme since he is a big man. And we are working here. We are not paid anything extra for today as well,” Rai said.

The group of labourers working in the house, however, agreed to eat mo:mos together in their lunch time on Sunday to celebrate the occasion . Earlier, they would go and have a tea and biscuits.

In another scenario of the Labour Day, a man was taking Rs. 250 from a shop nearby Tamrakar Complex New Road for carrying a big sack of clothes. 

“I carried the sack, which was around 80 kilograms, from the side of Dharahara. It was not a long distance so I accepted to carry it for Rs. 250. The price for carrying the load is based on its weight and distance to carry,” said Rishi Gartaula, a 55-year-old.

When Gartaula was asked about the Labour Day and whether he celebrated it or not, he said, “I knew there is a day for someone like me. I forgot it today. I have never celebrated it in the past as well. How should I celebrate it?”

According to Gartaula, if having a holiday is to celebrate the day, he takes leave as he pleased. 

“Today, I am fit. I am neither ill nor have some other works. So I came to earn some livelihood today. Whatever day it is, I am free to work or not work. However, I cannot survive if I don't work only for a couple of days,” said Gartaula with a smile at the end.

Gartaula also echoed Sharma saying, “For someone like me, every day is same.”

The number of physical labourers is unknown. Their lives are neither secured under any policies by their bosses nor are they paid properly. 

Meanwhile, unions of labourers, government officials and political leaders congratulated the labourers for their contribution.