BRICS Employment Working Group meets in Thiruvananthapuram to advance social security
Synopsis
India is using its BRICS presidency to push a multilateral labour agenda — and Thiruvananthapuram is the latest venue. With 11 member states and global bodies like the ILO in the room, the Second EWG meeting could shape how some of the world's largest economies approach social security, workforce formalisation, and the rights of gig workers.
Key Takeaways
The Second BRICS Employment Working Group meeting begins in Thiruvananthapuram on 7 May 2025 , running for two days.
Representatives from 11 BRICS Member States — including Brazil, Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia — will attend in person.
The First EWG Meeting was held virtually in March 2025 and covered four priority areas including gig worker protections and women's workforce inclusion.
The ILO , ISSA , and the UN Resident Coordinator Office will provide technical inputs.
Key agenda: social security systems , labour market formalisation , and skills development cooperation .
The Second BRICS Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting is set to begin in Thiruvananthapuram on 7 May 2025, with representatives from 11 BRICS Member States gathering over two days to deliberate on labour market formalisation, social security, and workforce inclusion. The Ministry of Labour and Employment announced the development on Tuesday, noting that the meeting is being held under India's ongoing BRICS presidency.
Who Is at the Table
The in-person meeting brings together labour and employment representatives from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates. Key international knowledge partners — the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the International Social Security Association (ISSA), and the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office — will also participate, providing technical inputs and global perspectives.
Building on the First EWG Meeting
The First EWG Meeting was held in virtual mode in March 2025 and initiated constructive discussions across four priority areas: advancing social security and formalisation of labour markets; enhancing women's participation and inclusion in the workforce; cooperation on employability, skills mapping, and development; and leveraging digital technologies for all workers, including gig and platform workers. The second meeting serves as the first in-person platform to carry those discussions forward and sharpen the focus on deliverables under India's presidency.
Key Agenda Items
The deliberations in Thiruvananthapuram will concentrate specifically on two themes: advancing social security systems and accelerating the formalisation of labour markets, alongside cooperation in employability, skills mapping, and skills development. These areas reflect a broader push among BRICS nations to build more resilient, inclusive labour frameworks — particularly relevant as informal employment continues to dominate large sections of the workforce across member economies.
What the Ministry Said
The Ministry of Labour and Employment stated that the active participation of BRICS Member States and knowledge partners is expected to contribute to the development of
Point of View
However, is whether these deliberations produce binding commitments or remain aspirational communiqués. With informal labour comprising the majority of the workforce across most BRICS economies, the gap between policy language and ground-level formalisation remains vast. The inclusion of newer members like Ethiopia and Indonesia adds complexity but also legitimacy to any framework that emerges — making this round of talks more consequential than it might appear on the surface.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BRICS Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting in Thiruvananthapuram about?
The Second BRICS EWG meeting, held from 7 May 2025 in Thiruvananthapuram, focuses on advancing social security systems, formalising labour markets, and fostering cooperation on skills development. It is part of India's ongoing BRICS presidency agenda on labour and worker welfare.
Which countries are participating in the Second BRICS EWG meeting?
Eleven BRICS Member States are represented: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates. International bodies including the ILO and ISSA are also participating as knowledge partners.
What was discussed at the First BRICS EWG Meeting?
The First EWG Meeting, held virtually in March 2025, initiated discussions on four priorities: social security and labour formalisation, women's workforce inclusion, employability and skills development, and digital technologies for gig and platform workers.
Why is the BRICS EWG meeting significant for India?
As the current BRICS president, India is steering the bloc's employment agenda at a time when labour formalisation and social security remain critical domestic and regional challenges. The outcomes are expected to inform the BRICS Labour Ministers' dialogue later in 2025.
What role will the ILO and other international bodies play?
The International Labour Organisation, the International Social Security Association, and the UN Resident Coordinator Office will provide technical inputs and share global perspectives to enrich deliberations on employment, social security, and the future of work.
