Strengthening the demand for employment on May Day

Civilization has advanced through the blows of the worker’s hammer. While it is true that one becomes a worker through labor, the term “worker” typically conjures the image of an industrial laborer. Yet, the scope of working people is far broader, because every human being is involved in some form of work, and every task requires labor. In that sense, all people on earth could be considered workers. From a Marxist perspective, the working class is the most modern class, destined to lead the revolution. Karl Marx gave special status to factory workers as a revolutionary class—liberated from feudal bondage, yet united under one roof and one collective interest within the factory system.

These workers have nothing to lose—they are the proletariat. Displaced from land, landless peasants and day laborers become workers with no means of livelihood except their labor power. Hence, they have nothing to lose. The term “working people” includes both manual labor and intellectual work. Anyone who survives by selling their physical or mental labor is part of the working class. Whether engaged in agriculture or industry, if someone is involved in production, they are a worker. Labor and consciousness—these are the sources of all social wealth. It is the fusion of muscle and mind that produces the sum of human civilization. However, despite creating civilization with their own hands, working people are subjugated by modern capitalist society.

A major transformation in history occurred within half a century: the Industrial Revolution. It began in the mid-18th century and led to the emergence of a distinct working class. Cottage industries and small workshops gave way to medium and large-scale factories. The monstrous growth of industrial capital consumed labor indiscriminately, depriving workers of minimum wages required for survival. Workers were subjected to harsh conditions akin to the cruelty once reserved for slaves—forced to work sixteen hours a day.

The first demand for an eight-hour workday was raised in 1866 in Baltimore, USA. On May 1, 1886, workers in Chicago’s Haymarket demanded this right and staged a strike. The police tried to crush the movement by firing on the gathering, killing six workers. In protest, thousands demonstrated on May 4; five more workers were shot dead by police. Some organizers were even sentenced to death. One injured boy waved his blood-soaked shirt as a flag of victory—this later came to symbolize the red flag of labor. The brutal suppression backfired, igniting protests worldwide. Workers in other countries stood in solidarity and brought work to a standstill.

Poet Sukanta Bhattacharya aptly wrote, “Red fire has spread from horizon to horizon—what is the point of living like a dog?” As the situation spiraled out of control, governments and businesses agreed to workers’ demands. A new chapter in history was born. Organized workers began achieving their goals. The eight-hour workday is now internationally recognized, enshrined in the conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO). On July 14, 1889, the Second International Workers’ Congress in Paris declared May 1 as the International Workers’ Day—a day of unity and rights. For all workers, May Day is a day of renewed commitment to struggle. It is the hard-won fruit of long and arduous movements.

But a critical question remains: is leadership of workers’ organizations still in the hands of working people? The answer is no. As a result, many helpless workers are crushed under the cruel heel of exploitative systems. What is more alarming is that, despite making up a large portion of the global population, most working people remain deprived of basic rights. Workers toil to produce food, clothing, and shelter for the wealthy, yet struggle to meet their own basic needs. In many countries, ILO conventions on labor rights remain only partially implemented. Even where they are adopted, violations are common. In our own country, workers’ rights are far from secure and are often ignored. Despite laws prohibiting child labor, many children are still seen working. The working class still lacks social respect. Yet work is work—regardless of type. It is uncivilized to discriminate between intellectual and physical labor in terms of dignity or rights. It is essential to ensure respect and rights for both labor and laborers.

May Day returns every year to remind us where we stand. This year, it compels us to confront a grim economic reality. On one hand, countless educated youths are waiting for jobs; on the other, employment opportunities are shrinking. The core demand of the July Movement was employment. During Sheikh Hasina’s rule, discriminatory policies worsened the unemployment crisis. It was widespread frustration over joblessness that drove students to mobilize. A survey shows that 78% of youths are concerned about employment. The interim government has also failed to create jobs. Though the previous government left behind a weak economy, no significant improvement has been seen in the past eight months. On January 29, 2024, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) stated that without political and institutional stability, domestic and foreign investment cannot be expected. Therefore, the interim government’s priority should be to create an environment for elections as soon as possible.

Time is running out for many young people nearing the age limit for employment. With no source of income, the social repercussions will be dire. According to the ILO, the post-COVID generation faces the greatest risk. A Prothom Alo youth survey also revealed deep concerns among young people over life goals, personal safety, and employment. Around 74.5% of respondents expressed serious anxiety about these issues, primarily due to uncertainty about future job opportunities. Although business has somewhat slowed down recently, economic advisor Salehuddin Ahmed says the economy is not in terrible shape. Yet reduced business activity has affected incomes, and job creation has declined. The drop in infrastructure projects is partly to blame, as discussed in a recent ECNEC meeting. While the government is trying to boost trade and instructed the Bangladesh Bank to increase SME lending, Salehuddin acknowledged people are struggling—and new employment is a necessity.

In the last decade, Bangladesh’s GDP has grown by Tk 40 trillion. But during the same period, only about 4.06 million new enterprises joined the economy—3.91 million in the service sector and just 138,885 in manufacturing. Yet only 6.2 million jobs were created. By contrast, in 2013, employment growth was double that. The preliminary report of the 2024 Economic Census by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) reveals this discrepancy. Economists say that GDP growth has not been matched by expansion in economic activities, resulting in fewer-than-expected jobs and rising unemployment. Even though 6.2 million jobs were added in the last decade, the same number became unemployed in 2024 alone. For a sustainable economy, this trend must be reversed.

Previously, governments have failed to create jobs due to an obsession with flashy GDP growth. The rush to meet growth targets often hides policy failures. While GDP growth is a development indicator, it is not the only one. For genuine progress, Bangladesh must undertake radical redistribution of resources, and ensure healthcare, education, food security, and social protection. The most critical component of social protection is employment. After COVID-19, lower and middle-income groups, along with the poor and marginalized, are facing livelihood crises. Without strong public and private initiatives, generating jobs for the youth remains a top challenge. Without political and institutional stability, local and foreign investors will remain reluctant to invest.

As the BBS economic census indicates, GDP has expanded significantly over the past decade, but job creation has not kept pace. Only 6.2 million jobs were added, and that same number became unemployed in just one year. With 2.4 million young people entering the job market annually, only 0.5 to 1 million find work abroad, mostly in low-skilled positions. The rest cannot find jobs. It is vital to create opportunities for skilled and educated workers abroad, which could positively impact the economy. We need regionally targeted planning to expand business and decentralize industrial zones. Innovation, entrepreneurship, and a startup mindset must be fostered among youth through training, incentives, and mentoring. We must collect centralized data on the informal sector and drastically increase the national education budget. Investment in technical and tech-based education and research is critical. Students need career guidance and stronger connections between academia and industry. While we are navigating a period of crisis, how we emerge depends on the government’s ability to formulate and implement sound, forward-thinking policies.

CPD’s distinguished fellow Mustafizur Rahman says that ensuring decent work requires implementing a minimum wage. At the same time, quality education must be ensured through integration of the country’s diverse educational streams. He adds, “A product is only good when the process is right.” For SDG implementation, effective policies are needed in employment, education, freedom of expression, and climate issues. All indicators point to the same conclusion: promises of employment remain largely rhetorical. Reality tells a different story. While joblessness plagues one side, income inequality grows steadily on the other. No major new industries have emerged in recent times, and educated people are disillusioned due to the lack of formal sector jobs.

This May Day, the call for employment must be louder than ever. In this context, May Day becomes even more relevant—more alive. It is time for workers to unite and demand guarantees of food, clothing, shelter, education, and healthcare. We must not take their labor for granted.

Habib Emon is a political analyst and columnist. He is also a presidium member of the Bangladesh Youth Union.