Millions of workers in Egypt celebrate Labor Day on the first of May every year. It is also observed in many countries around the world and is considered an official public holiday in some of them, including Egypt. Over time, this day has become a symbol of the working class’s struggle for its rights.

Egypt also has its own independent tradition of celebrating Labor Day, which began in 1924 when workers in Alexandria organized a large celebration at the headquarters of the General Federation of Trade Unions, followed by a massive demonstration.

With the rise of the late President Gamal Abdel Nasser to power and the gradual nationalization of the labor movement, the occasion took on an official form and was institutionalized. In 1964, May 1st became an official public holiday, during which the President of the Republic delivers a political speech to trade unionists and labor leaders.