The Union Minister for Labour & Employment recently attended the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting conducted under the Chinese Presidency.
The Formation and Importance of BRICS
Coined by British Economist Jim O’Neill in 2001, BRICS is an acronym that represents some of the world’s leading emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The term originally was BRIC, South Africa was added in December 2010 forming BRICS. These five countries represent 41% of the global population, 24% of the world GDP and 16% of global trade. The chair of the forum rotates annually among the members in accordance with the acronym B-R-I-C-S. For 2022, China holds the chairmanship.
Key Points Discussed at the BRICS Meeting
The meeting focused on three priority areas. First, promoting ‘green jobs’ for sustainable development. Green jobs refer to the kind of employment that positively impacts the environment and contributes to overall environmental welfare. It encompasses renewable energy, conservation of resources, and energy-efficient tasks. This is done to reduce the negative environmental impact of economic sectors and further the process of creating a low-carbon economy. Second, developing skills for resilient recovery, and third, protecting workers’ rights in new forms of employment.
India’s Stance at the Meeting
At the meeting, India discussed the measures taken by the country to provide relief to workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. The initiatives included providing free ration, increasing the number of days of employment under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, and providing collateral-free loans to 2.9 million street vendors under the PMSVANidhi Yojana. In response to climate change, a Sector Council for Green Jobs has been established in India. This Council is designed to develop strategies and implement programmes for skill development in the green sector.
The BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Declaration
One of the significant outcomes of the meeting was the adoption of the BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Declaration. This declaration recognises the need to promote green jobs for sustainable development, strengthen cooperation in skills development and protect workers’ rights in new forms of employment.
Other Related Initiatives
Several other initiatives related to labour and employment were discussed. These included the e-Shram Portal, Code on Social Security 2020, SANKALP programme, STRIVE project, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, and the National Skill Development Corporation.
