India hosts BRICS Labour Ministers' meet in Hyderabad, launches BRICS CONNECT
Hyderabad, July 15
India, under its BRICS Chairship 2026, hosted the BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' meeting in Hyderabad on Wednesday, focusing on building inclusive, resilient and future-ready labour markets.
Union Minister for Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandviya chaired the Ministerial Session, which was attended by Labour Ministers and delegates from all BRICS member states. The discussions centred on the future of work and emerging challenges in the global job market.
The Ministers adopted the Labour and Employment Ministers' Declaration, reaffirming a shared commitment to resilient, inclusive and future-ready labour markets.
The declaration reached consensus on key areas including social security and formalisation, increasing women's workforce participation, employability and skills development, and the use of digital technologies for all workers, including gig and platform workers.
Best practices shared by BRICS member countries were highlighted during the meeting and appreciated by delegates for offering diverse approaches to strengthening labour markets and worker welfare. Addresses by Ministers and representatives from all BRICS nations provided valuable perspectives and are expected to pave the way for deeper cooperation.
A key highlight of the meeting was the launch of BRICS Connect, the BRICS Cooperation Network for Capacity Building, Employability, and New Skills & Technologies.
It is a flagship initiative of India's Presidency aimed at strengthening capacity building, knowledge sharing and technical collaboration among BRICS nations.
Officials said the Declaration and the launch of BRICS CONNECT together mark an important step toward creating labour markets that are inclusive, resilient and prepared for future challenges.
— ANI
Reader Comments
BRICS CONNECT sounds promising for skill development! 🇮🇳 As someone working in the IT sector, I see how automation is changing jobs. This cooperation with Brazil, Russia, China, and South Africa can help us learn from their best practices in reskilling workers. The future of work needs global collaboration.
"Inclusive and resilient" - these words sound nice but our ground reality is different. Women's workforce participation in India is still very low compared to other BRICS nations. We need more daycare facilities, safe transport, and flexible work options. Just adopting a declaration won't change mindsets.
Hyderabad hosting such international meetings is a matter of pride for Telangana. But as a retired government employee, I feel we waste too much time on photo ops and declarations. The focus should be on formalising our vast unorganised sector. Over 90% of Indian workers are in informal jobs!
Digital technologies for gig workers is a welcome step. Many platform workers don't even have basic digital literacy. BRICS CONNECT should focus on practical training, not just policy papers. We need mobile-based skill modules in regional languages for our auto drivers and delivery partners.
Great to see India taking the lead on labour issues globally. The fact that all BRICS nations adopted the declaration shows our diplomatic strength. But the real test will be implementation - especially on social security for migrant workers who crossed state borders during the pandemic. Let's hope this isn't just another document gathering dust.
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