Trade unions are advocating for May 1st to be formally recognized as a national holiday in Switzerland. This request, reported by Gazeta Express on March 18, 2026, centers around designating International Workers’ Day as a public holiday for all employees. The Joint Trade Union Travail Suisse is driving this initiative to promote equality and establish clear legal standards.
National Councilor Léonore Porchet, Deputy Chair of Travail Suisse and a representative from the Green Party, has introduced a motion to officially declare May 1st a holiday for every worker across the country. However, the employers’ association is voicing strong opposition, asserting that such a designation would significantly increase operational costs for the Swiss economy. Currently, several cantons already observe May 1st as a holiday, including Zurich, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft, Jura, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Thurgau, and Ticino.
The trade unions’ push for a national observance reflects a desire to solidify worker protections and ensure consistent recognition of this important day.
Topics: #national #trade #unions
Swiss labor organizations are campaigning to establish May 1st as a nationwide holiday. This proposal, first highlighted in Gazeta Express on March 18, 2026, focuses on officially commemorating Intern