As in previous years, the government declared a public holiday on Thursday, May 1, to mark International Labour Day. Trade unions held rallies and events to amplify calls for improved labour rights.
Yet, the spirit of the day largely bypassed those who survive on daily wages. For many such workers, taking a day off means losing a day’s income—something they simply cannot afford.
The following photographs by our photojournalist Sunil Sharma capture daily wage earners, among other workers, on duty across various locations in the Kathmandu Valley on May 1, underscoring the stark contrast between official observance and the realities of those still fighting for the very rights being celebrated.
