Communication and collaboration among BRICS countries are crucial to improving bloc-wide employment figures. This was the main takeaway from the second day of the BRICS Employment Working Group (EWG).
Delegates from all BRICS nations make up the EWG, currently meeting in Durban, South Africa.
The agreement marks a significant step towards enhancing labour collaboration and social protection among BRICS nations. The EWG session is expected to set the stage for the upcoming BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting (LEMM).
Delegates debated crucial matters like promoting workers’ rights, improving access to social protection, addressing skills gaps, and fostering sustainability and innovation. The aim was to formulate tangible outcomes to improve the lives of BRICS citizens.
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EWG session outcomes demonstrate BRICS’ commitment to collective growth and inclusive development. They are as follows:
- A ministerial declaration
- Joint Statement from all labour and employment ministers
- Endorsement of BRICS research networks report
- Initiation of discussions on the BRICS productivity ecosystem for decent work.
Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Boitumelo Moloi, who presided over the session, praised the collective efforts and emphasised the strengthening of collaborative bonds among the BRICS member countries.
Looking ahead, the focus is now on the BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting (LEMM), scheduled to run from 28th to 29th September 2023.
In this gathering, Labour and Employment Ministers are expected to endorse the outcomes of the EWG session and put plans in place to turn strategy into action.
Representatives from ten BRICS member countries and delegates from Cuba, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, and Zimbabwe will participate in the BRICS LEMM.
The BRICS nations are poised to further cement their collaborative efforts, enhancing the prospects of sustainable and equitable growth in the realm of labour and employment.
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