South Africa has thrown its weight behind the 12th BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Declaration, with Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Mr Jomo Sibiya, underscoring the urgency of building labour markets that are inclusive, resilient and ready for the future.
“The priorities we have agreed upon are not just timely, they are essential,” said Deputy Minister Sibiya. “They speak directly to the lived realities of workers across the Global South.”
Speaking at the 12th BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting in Hyderabad on 15 July 2026, Deputy Minister Sibiya highlighted five critical fronts: expanding social protection, formalising labour markets, boosting women’s economic participation, strengthening employability through skills development and harnessing digital technologies for the benefit of all workers.
“These are the pillars of a just and dynamic future of work,” he added.
The Ministers’ Meeting serves as the highest political forum within the BRICS Labour and Employment Track. It offers a vital space for reviewing the work of the Employment Working Group, exchanging policy responses to emerging labour market challenges, deepening South-South cooperation, and adopting the annual declaration.
Deputy Minister Sibiya praised India’s stewardship of the BRICS Presidency under the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” noting that the agenda is both practical and forward-looking. He stressed that the four priority areas align seamlessly with South Africa’s national development goals, advancing decent work, reducing inequality and ensuring that economic transformation leaves no one behind.
A standout achievement of India’s Presidency, he said, is the launch of BRICS CONNECT the Cooperation Network for Capacity Building, Employability, New Skills and Technologies.
“This is a game-changer,” said Deputy Minister Sibiya. “It moves us beyond dialogue into delivery. It is a voluntary, practical framework for technical cooperation, knowledge exchange and institutional capacity building among member states.”
He urged continued partnership with the International Labour Organization and other knowledge institutions to keep BRICS cooperation grounded in evidence and responsive to the rapidly changing world of work.
The 12th BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Declaration, adopted on 15 July 2026, reflects consensus across member states on four pillars:
· Advancing social security and labour market formalisation.
· Enhancing women’s workforce participation and inclusion.
· Cooperation on employability, skills mapping, and development.
· Leveraging digital technologies for all workers including those in the gig and platform economy.
The Declaration charts a collective policy path for future cooperation, reinforcing commitments to decent work, inclusive labour markets, social justice and sustainable development. It also formally endorses BRICS CONNECT as a key mechanism to turn these commitments into action.
South Africa’s active participation reaffirms its dedication to multilateral engagement on labour and employment, championing a people-centred future of work and driving policy innovation across the Global South.
“South Africa stands firm in its commitment to BRICS solidarity, South-South cooperation, and the shared goal of building labour markets that are more inclusive, productive, and equitable,” concluded Deputy Minister Sibiya. “We look forward to working with all member states to implement these commitments for the benefit of our workers, our economies, and our peoples.”
