Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines – Workers across St Vincent and the Grenadines marched through the capital on Thursday to mark Labour Day, as the government pledged new legislation aimed at strengthening workers’ rights.
The march and rally, organised by the National Labour Congress under the theme “Unity and Solidarity”, brought together members of several trade unions in observance of International Workers’ Day on 1 May.
Addressing the gathering, Labour Minister Laverne Gibson-Velox said the government remained committed to improving protections for workers through legislative reform.
“We are actively working to advance key pieces of legislation, including the Labour Relations Bill, which will soon be brought forward as an Act, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act,” she said.
She added that efforts were also under way to modernise existing labour laws, noting that the Protection of Employment Act would be updated “to reflect the realities of today’s workforce”.
The annual Labour Day activities highlight the role of organised labour and provide a platform for workers to raise concerns about wages, working conditions and job security.
International Workers’ Day, observed globally on 1 May, has its origins in the late 19th-century labour movement, particularly the campaign for an eight-hour workday in the United States. The date became a symbol of workers’ rights following protests in Chicago in 1886, and is now marked in many countries with marches, rallies and public demonstrations.
In St Vincent and the Grenadines, Labour Day is a public holiday and is traditionally commemorated with union-led activities advocating for workers’ welfare and national development.