Mandaviya holds bilateral meetings with BRICS counterparts, pushes labour, skills and digital cooperation

Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya held a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Indonesia, Iran, Russia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the International Social Security Association (ISSA) on the sidelines of the 12th BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting in Hyderabad, underscoring India’s push for deeper cooperation on labour mobility, skilling, digital public infrastructure (DPI) and social security.

The ministerial meeting, held under India’s BRICS Chairship 2026, brought together labour ministers, senior officials, employers’ and workers’ organisations, and knowledge partners to discuss the future of work, employment and social protection.

In the bilateral engagements, India showcased its flagship digital platforms, e-Shram and the National Career Service (NCS) portal as examples of digital public infrastructure supporting social protection, employment services and international labour mobility. Discussions also focused on strengthening South-South cooperation through BRICS CONNECT, a new platform aimed at collaboration in skilling, workforce planning and digital innovation.

During talks with UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation Abdulrahman Al Awar, both sides discussed labour mobility and digital public infrastructure. India also invited the UAE to participate in the India-ILO feasibility study on developing an International Reference Classification of Occupations, highlighting the need for a globally relevant occupational classification framework.

In his meeting with Russian Labour and Social Protection Minister Anton Kotyakov, Mandaviya discussed expanding cooperation in employment, social protection, skill development and digital labour governance. India invited Russia to join the occupational classification study and suggested exploring the possibility of a bilateral Social Security Agreement (SSA).

Talks with Indonesia’s Minister of Manpower Yassierli focused on workforce development, employment cooperation and digital public infrastructure. India offered to share its experience in developing Digital Public Goods and expressed willingness to collaborate in using digital technologies to strengthen labour and employment services.

With Iran’s Minister of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare Ahmad Meidari, discussions centred on labour administration, employment and digital transformation. India shared its experience in building digital public infrastructure and offered support in adopting technology-driven labour governance solutions.

Mandaviya also met ISSA Secretary General Mohammed Azman to discuss cooperation in strengthening social security systems and promoting the exchange of global best practices. The minister noted that India had received the ISSA Award in 2025 for expanding social security coverage and said the country’s social security net now covers over one billion people in 2026.

Separately, Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje held bilateral meetings with representatives from Brazil and China.

In discussions with Brazil’s Vice Minister of Labour and Employment Francisco Macena da Silva, both sides explored cooperation in skills development, digital employment services, labour market information systems and social protection. Brazil’s participation in the feasibility study on the International Reference Classification of Occupations was welcomed.

Karandlaje’s meeting with China’s Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Yu Jiadong focused on future skills, digital employment services, labour market governance and social protection. India highlighted its initiatives to improve women’s workforce participation and strengthen digital public infrastructure for labour governance.

The ministry said the bilateral engagements reinforced broad support for BRICS CONNECT as a platform for practical cooperation, knowledge sharing and the development of inclusive and resilient labour markets. The meeting concluded with member countries reaffirming their commitment to promoting social justice, decent work, innovation and inclusive development through closer BRICS cooperation.