Syllabus: GS2/IR
Context
- 11th BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Meeting 2025 has adopted the Declaration Under Brazilian Presidency.
About
- The meeting, convened under the slogan “Strengthening the Cooperation of the Global South for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance”.
- The declaration addresses two pivotal themes: “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Future of Work” and “The Impacts of Climate Change on the World of Work and a Just Transition”.
- The declaration commits BRICS nations to:
- Promote inclusive AI policies that balance innovation with worker protection.
- Advance social dialogue to ensure fair climate transitions.
- Strengthen South-South cooperation on labour governance, digital inclusion, and green job creation.
- A major decision was the creation of a Policy Observatory, a platform for exchanging experiences on decent work and social protection.
Major Challenges Faced by Workers
- Artificial intelligence is radically reshaping labor relations: While technology creates new opportunities, it also brings risks such as job displacement and growing inequalities.
- Ministers expressed concern over disparities among BRICS nations, particularly in access to digital infrastructure, availability and quality of education.
- Focus on Vulnerable Groups: Women, Youth, Older workers, Persons with disabilities are more vulnerable to disruptions caused by automation and adverse effects of climate change.
- Climate Change and Employment: The transition to a low-carbon economy presents both challenges and job creation opportunities.
- Millions of green jobs could be generated, but only with appropriate training.
Suggestions
- Implementation of workforce reskilling programs.
- Strengthening partnerships between universities and private sector companies.
- Investing in digital literacy and future-ready skills development.
- Updating occupational safety and health standards to protect workers exposed to extreme climate conditions.
- Investment in adaptive strategies to future-proof the workforce.
Conclusion
- Representatives from labor unions and international organizations emphasized the need for more equitable global governance and called for the reform of institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank to address poverty and promote decent work.
- They also underscored the importance of climate financing and policies to prevent setbacks.
| BRICS – BRICS is an acronym that refers to a group of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. 1. Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates have joined BRICS as new full members. – The term was originally coined by economist Jim O’Neill in 2001. -BRICS brings together five of the largest developing countries of the world, representing around 41% of the global population, around 24% of the global GDP and around 16% of global trade. –Economic growth: All members are projected to grow in 2024, with rates ranging from 1.1% to 6.1% (IMF). –Origin: As a formal grouping, BRIC started after the meeting of the Leaders of Russia, India and China in St. Petersburg on the margins of the G8 Outreach Summit in 2006. 1. The grouping was formalized during the 1st meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers on the margins of UNGA in New York in 2006. 2. Initially, the grouping was termed BRIC as South Africa was inducted in 2010 and from there on it has been referred to as BRICS. –Summits: The governments of the BRICS states have met annually at formal summits since 2009. – BRICS countries have come together to deliberate on important issues under the three pillars of: 1. political and security, 2. economic and financial and 3. cultural and people-to-people exchanges. – New Development Bank: Formerly referred to as the BRICS Development Bank, is a multilateral development bank established by the BRICS states. 1. The Bank shall support public or private projects through loans, guarantees, equity participation and other financial instruments. |
Source: PIB
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