On this International Workers’ Day, I extend my heartfelt greetings to workers, families, and communities across the United Kingdom and around the world.

For me, this day is deeply personal.

My own journey began as a bus conductor in London. Like millions of others, I understood early in life the dignity of hard work, the importance of fair opportunity, and the strength that comes from collective solidarity. That experience shaped my lifelong commitment — from the shop floor to public service, and through my years in Parliament — to stand alongside working people.

As President of the Indian Workers’ Association, Southall, I am especially proud of the historic role our community has played in advancing workers’ rights. Generations of migrant workers, particularly from South Asia, faced discrimination, hardship, and exclusion. Yet through unity, resilience, and determination, they organised, they spoke out, and they helped transform workplaces and communities for the better.

May Day is a celebration — but it is also a reminder.

A reminder that rights at work were never simply given; they were fought for. Fair wages, safe working conditions, equality, and respect are the result of decades of struggle and sacrifice. We owe it to those who came before us to protect these hard-earned gains.

Today, new challenges confront working people. Economic uncertainty, rising living costs, insecure employment, and rapid technological change are reshaping the nature of work. We must ensure that progress does not come at the expense of dignity. Every worker — regardless of background, profession, or origin — deserves fairness, security, and opportunity.

Throughout my five terms as a Member of Parliament, and in over 50 years of public service, I have consistently advocated for social justice, equality, and the rights of the most vulnerable. I remain as committed as ever to these principles.

On this day, let us reaffirm our shared responsibility:
to stand with workers,
to strengthen our communities,
and to build a future where no one is left behind.

Let us move forward together — united in purpose, guided by fairness, and inspired by the enduring spirit of working people.

Happy International Workers’ Day.

By Virendra Sharma
President, Indian Workers’ Association Southall | Former Member of Parliament