BRICS Adopts Landmark Labour Declaration, India Launches CONNECT Platform

In a significant step towards strengthening labour cooperation among emerging economies, the 12th BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting (LEMM) on Wednesday adopted a comprehensive declaration focused on decent work, social protection, digital transformation and inclusive employment . Held under India's BRICS Chairship 2026 , the meeting also marked the launch of BRICS CONNECT , a first-of-its-kind platform proposed by India to enhance technical cooperation, policy exchange and capacity building among member countries.

The declaration outlines a shared vision to build formal, inclusive, gender-responsive and future-ready labour markets , reflecting the growing need to address challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI), automation, digital platforms and demographic shifts . Although non-binding, it provides a common policy roadmap for BRICS nations, which together represent over 40% of the world's population and nearly one-third of global GDP (PPP) .

Addressing the gathering, Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the declaration reflected the collective resolve of BRICS nations to ensure that "no worker is left behind." He noted that India's chairship was guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a people-centric and "Humanity First" approach.

Highlighting India's labour reforms, Mandaviya said the country consolidated 29 labour laws into four modern Labour Codes in November 2025 , creating a simplified and worker-centric legal framework. He also pointed to India's expanding social protection system, which now covers more than 100 crore people .

The meeting followed the Third BRICS Employment Working Group Meeting , held in Hyderabad on July 13-14 , where member countries deliberated on four priority areas— social security and labour formalisation, women's workforce participation, employability and skills development, and digital technologies for workers, including gig and platform workers .

The declaration commits BRICS nations to progressively expand social protection coverage , strengthen policies promoting women's economic participation , and improve workplace safety and protection against harassment. It also welcomed an International Labour Organization (ILO) feasibility study, being undertaken with India and Brazil , to develop an International Reference Classification of Occupations , aimed at improving global skill recognition and labour mobility.

A major outcome was the launch of BRICS CONNECT , envisioned as a permanent institutional mechanism for collaboration among labour ministries through research, knowledge sharing, policy dialogue and capacity building. The platform is expected to facilitate the exchange of best practices in labour governance and digital public infrastructure.

The ministers also agreed to deepen cooperation on the gig and platform economy , encouraging the sharing of digital innovations and policy experiences to improve employment services and strengthen social security for workers. The declaration reaffirmed the importance of South-South cooperation , positioning BRICS as a key forum for developing practical, worker-centric solutions to the evolving challenges of the global labour market.