Labour Day in Cape Verde
Labour Day, called Dia Internacional do Trabalhador in official Cape Verdean sources, falls on May 1. The country’s official school calendar lists it among national holidays, while government observances have focused on workers and labour issues.[1][2]
Date and holiday status
The date is fixed: Cape Verde observes Labour Day on May 1. An official school calendar names the date “Dia Internacional do Trabalhador” under national holidays. A collective agreement published in the Official Gazette also lists May 1 as a mandatory holiday for workers covered by that agreement.[1][3]
The agreement applies only to workers within its stated scope.[3]
Meaning and public observances
Cape Verdean government communications describe May 1 as the International Day of the Worker and use the occasion to address workers’ rights and labour conditions. In a 2011 message, the government addressed Cape Verdean workers and reaffirmed its commitment to labour issues.[2]
Official observances have included public discussion and information events. In 2019, the Directorate-General for Labour announced a workshop in Praia about labour legislation and a University of Cape Verde lecture on temporary-work and telework rules. The programme was intended for workers, unions, employers, students, civil-society groups and the public.[4]
Banks and planning
The Bank of Cabo Verde includes May 1, Dia do Trabalhador, in its published bank-holiday calendar. Its schedule says the Bank of Cabo Verde closes when a listed holiday falls on a weekday; this does not establish the opening hours of every bank or business.[5]
Check opening hours with shops, restaurants or transport providers before you go.
Frequently asked questions
When is Labour Day in Cape Verde?
It is observed on May 1, the date identified as Dia Internacional do Trabalhador in an official Cape Verdean school calendar.[1]
Is Labour Day a public holiday?
Are banks open on Labour Day?
The Bank of Cabo Verde lists May 1 in its bank-holiday calendar and says it closes when a listed holiday falls on a weekday. Check with other banks for their own schedules.[5]
Does Cape Verde move the holiday when May 1 falls on a weekend?
The official calendar lists no substitute day.[3]
Sources and references
Sources used for Labour Day in Cape Verde:
- Boletim Oficial n.º 146, 1.º Suplemento, II Série de 06-08-2025- Boletim Oficial da República de Cabo Verde
- Dia do Trabalhador: Governo reitera comprometimento em torno das questões laborais- Governo de Cabo Verde
- Boletim Oficial n.º 21, II Série de 27-03-2018- Boletim Oficial da República de Cabo Verde
- DGT realiza atividades para assinalar o Dia Internacional do Trabalhador- Governo de Cabo Verde
- Feriados Bancários- Banco de Cabo Verde