From BBC World Service, 1 May 2001 and Daily Star, 1 May 2001

Political leaders including the president, prime minister and leader of the opposition issued separate messages urging protection for the interests of the working class.

However (mainly women) workers in the garment industry, are officially denied the opportunity to show solidarity with fellow workers as it is illegal for them to form or join trade unions. This is hypocritical in a country where the garment industry is the biggest earner of foreign exchange.

Many groups (especially women) are new on the industrial scene. These workers are beginning to find their political feet.

This year for the first time 1.5 million women workers were called on to strike to protest having to work on May Day.

Trade union leaders stressed that it was hypocritical for government employees to take the day off work, while workers such as women garment makers were denied the holiday.

While remembering the founders of May Day who died at the hands of the authorities in Chicago in 1886 demanding an eight hour day, the day of solidarity echoed sentiments of anti-capitalism now familiar all over the world.