India will host the 12th BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting (LEMM) in Hyderabad on July 15-–16, bringing together labour ministers and senior officials from BRICS member countries to strengthen cooperation on social protection, workforce participation, skills development and digital technologies for workers.
The meeting is one of the key ministerial engagements under India’s BRICS Chairship in 2026 and will be held under the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability (BRICS).” Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will chair the ministerial meeting.
The LEMM follows the Third BRICS Employment Working Group (EWG) Meeting, held in Hyderabad on July 13–14, during which member countries exchanged best practices and national experiences across four priority areas.
The ministers will deliberate on advancing social security and the formalisation of labour markets, enhancing women’s participation and inclusion in the workforce, strengthening cooperation on employability, skills mapping and skill development, and leveraging digital technologies for all workers, including gig and platform workers.
The meeting will provide an opportunity for BRICS nations to share innovative policy approaches and national experiences, covering areas such as social protection reforms, labour market formalisation, skilling initiatives and inclusive frameworks for platform-based employment.
The Ministry of Law and Justice said the Employment Working Group has also concluded discussions on a draft declaration, which will be placed before the ministers for consideration and adoption during the two-day meeting.
The ministerial meeting is expected to serve as a platform for sustained dialogue on common labour market and employment challenges amid rapid technological and economic changes. Discussions will focus on strengthening cooperation in social protection, workforce skilling and labour market policies to promote inclusive, resilient and sustainable growth across BRICS countries.
The deliberations will also explore practical and replicable policy tools to help labour markets remain inclusive, adaptable and responsive to emerging economic and technological realities.
The Hyderabad meeting is expected to further strengthen cooperation among BRICS nations and contribute to forward-looking outcomes on labour, employment and worker welfare, while promoting decent work, expanding social protection and preparing workforces for the future of work through continued dialogue and knowledge sharing.
