Labour Day 2026 and 2027 in Malawi

International Labour Day, or just “Labour Day”, is an important annual observance in the African state of Malawi. On this day, there are public speeches, special events, and trade union rallies that focus attention on both progress made and progress still to be made in regard to the welfare of the nation’s workforce.

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2026	1 May	Fri	Labour Day
2027	1 May	Sat	Labour Day
	3 May	Mon	Labour Day Holiday
Please scroll down to end of page for previous years' dates.

There is a Labour Day march in the city of Lilongwe, the national capital, to Civo Stadium, where high government officials and other important figures give labour-focused speeches. Fighting corruption and ensuring all employers comply with national labour laws like safety standards and minimum wage are major themes.

Another major event is held by the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions. And there are smaller meetings and discussion groups as well scattered throughout the country.

The origin of this worldwide holiday is the 4 May 1886 Haymarket Massacre during a labour protest in Chicago, USA. As the world industrialised in the mid to late 1800’s, the dismal working conditions in many factories led to a protest movement.

The Haymarket Massacre became a key moment in the movement, leading to the establishment of Labour Day, then called “International Workers Day”, to demand things like an 8-hour work day, safer working conditions, and increased pay.

Previous Years

Year	Date	Day	Holiday
2025	1 May	Thu	Labour Day
2024	1 May	Wed	Labour Day