Immense potential for cooperation among BRICS countries in labour-related areas: Union Minister Mandaviya

Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya's recent emphasis on the immense potential for cooperation among BRICS nations in labour-related areas marks a significant milestone in India's multilateral diplomatic engagement. BRICS — an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — has evolved since its inception in 2009 (with South Africa joining in 2010) from a loose economic grouping into a structured platform for political, economic, and social cooperation. The grouping collectively represents approximately 42% of the world's population, over 30% of global GDP (PPP), and indeed one of the largest combined labour forces globally, making labour cooperation not just symbolic but strategically imperative. The statement was made in the context of the BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers' Meeting, a dedicated track under the broader BRICS framework that has gained momentum since the 2015 Ufa Summit. India has consistently championed the inclusion of labour and employment issues in BRICS deliberations, aligning with its domestic priorities under the 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas' vision. The Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, has been actively pursuing bilateral and multilateral social security agreements (SSAs) — India has signed SSAs with 19 countries so far — and BRICS offers a natural platform to expand such frameworks among member states. From a constitutional perspective, labour falls under the Concurrent List (List III, Entry 22, 23, 24) of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, enabling both Centre and States to legislate. Recent labour reforms — the four Labour Codes (Code on Wages, 2019; Industrial Relations Code, 2020; Code on Social Security, 2020; Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020) — aim to formalise the workforce, extend social security to gig and platform workers, and improve ease of doing business. These domestic reforms resonate with BRICS-level discussions on decent work, skill development, and social protection floors, as endorsed by the ILO's Centenary Declaration (2019). Key stakeholders include the International Labour Organization (ILO), which provides technical support to BRICS labour dialogues, national ministries of labour, employers' organisations (like CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM in India), and trade unions. For India, with a median age of 28.4 years and a demographic dividend window extending to 2055, cooperation on skill mapping, mutual recognition of qualifications, and portability of social security benefits is critical. The BRICS Network of Labour Research Institutes and the BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers' Declaration (2023, Johannesburg) have already laid groundwork for joint research, data sharing, and policy coordination. Strategically, this engagement complements India's G20 presidency (2023) priorities — particularly the focus on 'Future of Work', 'Universal Social Protection', and 'Skill Development for Industry 4.0'. It also counters Western-centric labour narratives by fostering South-South cooperation. Economically, harmonised labour standards across BRICS can reduce compliance costs for cross-border investments, facilitate labour mobility, and strengthen supply chain resilience — vital in a post-pandemic, geopolitically fragmented world. Looking ahead, the expansion of BRICS in 2024 (with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia joining) will further enlarge the labour pool and diversify cooperation models. India must leverage its digital public infrastructure (like e-Shram, ASEEM, NCS) as a template for BRICS-wide digital labour marketplaces. Future BRICS summits may institutionalise a permanent BRICS Labour Secretariat, adopt a BRICS Social Security Convention, and launch joint skilling missions for emerging sectors — green energy, AI, semiconductors. For aspirants, this convergence of domestic reform, multilateral diplomacy, and demographic strategy encapsulates the essence of New India's global labour governance vision.