BRICS Employment Working Group Concludes in Thiruvananthapuram — Labor Cooperation Agenda Set

India's 2nd BRICS Employment Working Group Meeting concluded on May 7, 2026 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, after two days of deliberations (May 6–7) among representatives from all BRICS member states under India's 2026 chairmanship. Delegates from Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, UAE, and Indonesia participated alongside Indian labor ministry officials. Key agenda items included advancing social security cooperation across BRICS economies, labor market formalization in emerging markets, enhancing women's workforce participation, skills development frameworks for the green and digital economy transitions, and leveraging digital technologies for worker welfare. India presented its 'Humanity First' approach — the overarching theme of its 2026 BRICS presidency — as a framework for reorienting labor policies toward inclusive growth. The meeting follows the first Employment Working Group session earlier in 2026 and feeds into preparations for the 18th BRICS Summit scheduled for September 12–13, 2026 in New Delhi.