May 1 – Labour Day

On May 1 Belarus celebrates the Labour Day (also known as the International Workers' Day), which is a public holiday. It was set by the Edict of the President of the Republic of Belarus No. 157 of March 26, 1998.

This day has a rich history: on May 1, 1886, Chicago workers organized a strike and a demonstration with the requirements of an 8-hour working day, which ended with a collision with police and massive victims among demonstrators. Three years later, the Paris Congress of II International called May 1 the day of workers’ solidarity and suggested it to be annually celebrated by demonstrations with social requirements. Thus, for a long time May 1 was celebrated as the day of international workers’ solidarity.
1 May became a truly “public holiday” only in the USSR. And it really was a holiday for Soviet workers who two more days-off. Today, this once perceived as an ideological holiday has lost its political nature and is celebrated as a spring holiday.

Speaking of labour, intellectual work occupies an important place in the society’s development. It is inherent only to a human being. Thanks to the developments made by scientists and artists’ creativity, numerous innovative and cultural products needed by the society are created contributing to its development.

The National Center of Intellectual Property contributes to the intellectual activity results protection and enforcement in the Republic of Belarus, thus protecting intellectual work itself.