India Chairs BRICS Labour Ministers’ Meeting on AI and Jobs

The BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting was held in Hyderabad, India, on 15 July 2026 under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026. Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya chaired the ministerial session with labour ministers and delegates from all BRICS member states.

BRICS Labour and Employment Framework

BRICS is an intergovernmental grouping of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, and it holds ministerial meetings on labour and employment issues. The 2026 meeting used the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”.

Declaration on Labour Markets and Technology

The ministers adopted the Labour and Employment Ministers’ Declaration at the Hyderabad meeting. The declaration covered resilient, inclusive and future-ready labour markets, social security, formalisation of work, women’s workforce participation, employability, skills development, and digital technologies for workers in the gig and platform economy.

Artificial Intelligence and Employment

The meeting discussed labour market changes linked to artificial intelligence and other digital technologies. The agenda included the use of AI in ways that support workers, improve productivity and expand access to skills, social protection and formal employment.

Important Facts for Exams

• BRICS stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
• Hyderabad hosted the BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting on 15 July 2026.
• India launched BRICS CONNECT as a cooperation network for capacity building, employability, and new skills and technologies.
• The International Labour Organization stated that India’s social protection system covers 1 billion people.

BRICS CONNECT and Trade Union Forum

India launched BRICS CONNECT as a cooperation network for capacity building, employability, and new skills and technologies among BRICS countries. The 15th BRICS Trade Union Forum was held in Hyderabad on 14 July 2026, and trade union representatives called for safeguards on AI use in workplaces.

Social Protection and Formal Work

Social security, formalisation of employment and women’s participation in the workforce are recurring labour policy themes in BRICS discussions. Gig workers and platform workers were included in the 2026 declaration as categories for digital inclusion and labour protection.