Labour Day in Comoros
In Comoros, Labour Day is the International Labour Day, observed each year on 1 May. A national decree declares it a public, non-working and paid holiday across the Union, with an exception for work that cannot stop because of the activity involved.[1]
A nationwide holiday established by decree
The Comorian decree lists 1 May as a civil holiday called the “Fête internationale du Travail.” It applies throughout the country and classifies the day as public, non-working and paid. Establishments and workers whose activities cannot be interrupted may continue working; the decree says their permitted categories are to be specified by a joint ministerial order.[1]
The calendar date is fixed, rather than tied to a weekday. The decree also allows a qualifying working day between holidays, a holiday and Saturday, or Sunday and a holiday to be declared non-working and paid. That provision does not itself set a routine substitute date for Labour Day; a separate decision would be needed.[1]
What the day means for workers
The decree’s name connects Comoros’s holiday to International Labour Day. The International Labour Organization traces the wider observance to workers in the United States who walked off the job on 1 May 1886 to support a shorter working day; 1 May was formally recognized as Labour or International Workers Day in 1891.[1][3]
In Comoros, the day’s documented local significance is clearest in its legal status and the country’s labour framework. The Labour Code says workers and their representatives have a right to participate in defining measures to improve work organization, workplace safety and health, and production quality and productivity.[2]
Commemorations and local customs
The decree establishes the holiday but does not prescribe a ceremony or customary way to mark it. Check local information for details of union gatherings, marches, speeches, family customs or foods. Those practices should not be assumed to happen nationwide or every year.[1]
What to expect for services
Because the holiday is legally non-working across the Union, government and business opening hours may differ from an ordinary day. The decree provides for exceptions where work cannot be interrupted, but it does not identify specific banks, shops, schools or transport services in the text available here. Check with a particular service or operator before travelling or making an appointment.[1]
Labour Day in Comoros: questions and answers
When is Labour Day in Comoros?
It is observed on 1 May each year. The decree names 1 May as International Labour Day, a civil holiday across the Union.[1]
Is it a paid day off?
The decree classifies Labour Day as non-working and paid throughout the country. It allows exceptions for establishments and workers whose activities cannot be interrupted.[1]
Is there an automatic substitute day if 1 May falls on a weekend?
The decree does not set a routine substitute date for Labour Day. It does allow a qualifying intervening working day to be declared non-working and paid, which requires a separate decision.[1]
Are shops, banks and transport services open?
The decree gives a general rule and an exception for work that cannot stop, but it does not give opening schedules for individual shops, banks or transport operators. Check directly with the service you plan to use.[1]
Sources and references
Sources used for Labour Day in Comoros:
- Décret N°25-147PR du 19 déc 2025 fixant la liste des jours fériés, chômés et payés en Union des Comores- Présidence de l’Union des Comores (hosted by Munganyo)
- Code du Travail 2012- Ministère de la Justice, des affaires islamiques, et de la fonction publique, chargé des droits de l’Homme, de la transparence et des administrations publiques
- Why do fundamental labour standards matter?- International Labour Organization