Hyderabad hosted the BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting on July 15, under India’s 2026 BRICS chairmanship, where member states adopted a joint declaration aimed at deepening cooperation on social protection, labour‑market reforms, women’s workforce participation, skills development, and digital employment services. The gathering, themed “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” brought together ministers, delegation heads, employer and worker organisations, and international partners to chart the future of work in developing economies.

Strategic Objectives and Participants

The two‑day summit saw the participation of all five BRICS nations’ labour ministers, senior officials, and representatives from global employer bodies and trade unions. They deliberated on challenges posed by rapid technological change, the need for inclusive growth, and the importance of coordinated policy responses across emerging markets.

India’s Labour Reform Milestone

Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya opened the session by highlighting India’s sweeping labour reforms that, in November 2025, merged 29 antiquated statutes into four comprehensive Labour Codes. He described the new framework as “worker‑centric,” designed to safeguard the rights of the country’s 1.4 billion‑strong workforce. Mandaviya also stressed India’s role in enhancing international labour mobility, noting that more than 2,100 Global Capability Centres (GCCs) now employ 2.35 million professionals and generate close to USD 98 billion in annual revenue.

Telangana’s Model and Vision for Shared Prosperity

Telangana Labour and Employment Minister Vivek Venkataswamy urged fellow BRICS members to pursue a future where prosperity is shared, labour is respected, and every worker enjoys dignity, security, and equal opportunity. He showcased the Telangana Overseas Manpower Company (TOMCOM) as a transparent model for international labour mobility and called for greater exchange of best practices among member nations.

Key Outcomes: Declaration and ‘BRICS CONNECT’

The summit’s flagship achievement was the adoption of the BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Declaration, reaffirming each country’s commitment to decent work, robust social protection systems, enhanced employability, inclusive economic growth, and collaborative solutions to common labour‑market challenges. Additionally, the launch of ‘BRICS CONNECT’—an India‑led initiative—aims to institutionalise technical cooperation, capacity‑building, and knowledge sharing across the bloc, positioning BRICS as a catalyst for resilient, innovation‑driven labour ecosystems.