10th Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Labour and Employment Wraps Up in Sochi

Sochi hosted the 10th Meeting of Ministers of Labour and Employment under Russia’s Chairship of BRICS in its new expanded format on 9–10 September 2024. The event was attended by about 100 representatives of BRICS member states, the International Labour Organization, the International Social Security Association, and trade unions.

The meeting resulted in the adoption of a Declaration on the main objectives of cooperation and an agreement to establish a permanent BRICS Occupational Safety and Health Network.

“The Meeting of BRICS Ministers of Labour and Employment demonstrated the seriousness of BRICS commitment to the common principles of sovereign equality and openness in achieving the goals of sustainable social and economic development in the context of global change. The agreements reached will facilitate further cooperation and pave the way for the development of common approaches to labour protection within BRICS to be presented during the BRICS Summit in Kazan on 22–24 October,” Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation and Executive Secretary of the Organizing Committee for Russia’s Chairship of BRICS in 2024 Anton Kobyakov said.

The Declaration of the BRICS Ministers of Labour and Employment reflects new avenues for cooperation on platform employment and the transformation of labour relations in light of technological trends, social protection and improved labour culture, a reduction in work-related injuries, and the development of mechanisms for continuing education and modern instruments of social policy.

“We have agreed to take steps to address the challenges involved in developing affordable continuing professional education. We discussed approaches to regulating platform employment and major issues in occupational health and safety. We exchanged expertise in labour protection. The importance of our agreement to establish a BRICS Network on Occupational Safety and Health cannot be overstated. By working together, we can accelerate the transition while minimizing the risk in management of occupational safety and health and facilitate more widespread penetration of the most advanced technologies,” Russian Minister of Labour and Social Protection Anton Kotyakov said.

The BRICS Occupational Safety and Health Network will serve as a platform for sharing experience, developing cooperation, and harmonizing regulations and standards governing occupational safety and health. The Network’s annual meeting will be held in Sochi on the sidelines of Russian Labour Safety Week.

The Roscongress Foundation manages the events of Russia’s BRICS Chairship and organizes Russian Labour Safety Week.