Egyptian Labor Day

Historical background

Labor Day has been celebrated internationally since 1869 and in Egypt since 1924. The independent labour movement first marked workers’ day at the General Federation of Trade Unions, when the workers of Alexandria marched in a large demonstration to the Barrette cinema, where the Federation’s conference was being held.

In 1964 the occasion became official and a public holiday, and since then Egypt has joined many countries around the world in celebrating Labor Day on the first of May.

Ancient Egyptian civilisation introduced workers’ rights about five thousand years ago, with a weekly day off, defined workers’ gatherings and three cities built for workers.

How it is celebrated

Labour Day in Egypt is mainly an official occasion. The president usually attends a celebration with the General Federation of Trade Unions, where speeches praise the role of workers and sometimes announce new measures for them.

Trade unions and companies hold their own events, and some workers are honoured for their service. For most people, though, it is simply a day off in spring, often spent outdoors with family.

In 2027, Labour Day comes just before Sham El-Nessim on Monday 3 May, so many families will treat the days together as a short spring break. Parks, gardens and the Nile banks are likely to be busy.

What is open and closed

Government offices, banks and schools close. Saturday is already a weekend day for government offices in Egypt, so the holiday will feel like part of a long weekend. Shops, restaurants and cafes are usually open, and archaeological sites and museums usually keep their normal hours.

The government sometimes moves official holidays to another day of the week, so check the announcement nearer the time.