Here is the text of the declaration adopted by BRICS Labour
and Employment Ministers Meeting that concluded here today.
Building responsive, inclusive and
collective solutions
BRICS Labour and Employment
Ministers’ Declaration
Employment generation, social
protection for all and transition from informality to formality
Introduction
1.
We,
the Ministers
of Labour and Employment from the Federative Republic of Brazil, the Russian Federation,
the Republic of India, the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of South
Africa, met at New Delhi, India, on September 27-28, 2016, for
the Second BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting to strengthen
intra-BRICS coordination, enhance information sharing, discuss and agree upon specific areas of
cooperation in our endeavor to address labour and employment challenges faced
commonly by BRICS member states.
2.
Addressing
labour, employment and social issues is imperative for fostering strong,
sustainable and inclusive growth. We recognize that the constitution of the
BRICS Employment Working Group (BEWG) initiated by the Russian Presidency is an
important step for facilitating focused deliberations on BRICS labour and
employment issues and achieving the broad objectives of quality and inclusive
employment, formalization of labour markets, and exchange of labour market
related information.
3.
We have
collaborated successfully in the ILO Governing Body and International Labour
Conference on specific issues of common interest and we pledge to strengthen
this collaboration to further promote common objectives at other international fora.
4.
We recalled our
meeting hosted by India on the sidelines of the International Labour Conference
in June 2016 where we discussed issues of common interest to the group such as
employment generation, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), transition to
formality, and sharing of good practices.
5.
Wehile
acknowledge the importance of global supply chains and its contribution to job
creation. We recognizeing current challenges in addressing labour issues in
global supply chains. we beli As a group we will participate
in the discussions onion global supply chain and endeavour to
evolve our approach towards the new policy options.
6.
As key
operational areas, the BRICS member states will focus on employment generation,
formalization of labour markets and social protection.
Employment Generation
7.
Quality
employment plays a central role in ensuring sustainable development and is at
the core of the 2030 Development Agenda. In promoting inclusion and greater
equality in the labour market, a top priority for BRICS member states is the
generation of adequate decent and productive job opportunities, fair wages and
adequate social protection systems for all, including floors. This, will in
turn help in tackling poverty and lead to sustainable growth.
8.
Technological
revolution and structural changes require adequate labour resources. We
recognize the importance of addressing labour mobility issues, which can bring
potential benefits to our economies. We will focus our analyses at the institutional
arrangements and social networks facilitating labour mobility and on
forecasting of the labour market needs and the labour force availability.
9.
We resolve to assist
each other in sharing best practices in implementing policies and programmes
that encourage innovation and entrepreneurship for employment generation. We intend
to strengthen our public employment services to help our labour force, particularly
the youth to find employment opportunities. We are also committed to
strengthening labour market information systems based on each other’s
experience.
10.
We resolve to
improve the employability of our workforce through modernization of skills development
systems and life-long learning, which allows workers to remain relevant in the world
of work environment that is changing fast due to technological revolution. We
believe that expanding and improving education and formal training is of
paramount importance to tap the benefits of innovation and to increase
productivity, which shall lead to decent jobs.
Formalization of Labour Markets
11.
Informality in
the labour market remains a big challenge for all BRICS member states.
Informality is often linked to low income jobs, lack of social protection and
insufficient access to basic services. Recognizing the multiple issues in our
national labour markets context, we are committed to tackling both the existing
as well as emerging forms of informality. Consistent with the objectives of the
ILO Recommendation No.204, we aim at improving the livelihood of workers
engaged in the informal economy and facilitating their transition to the formal
economy, while at the same time enhancing the productivity and competitiveness
of enterprises.
12.
We encourage the
adoption of measures to enhance employability of workers in the informal
economy through expanding social security, skilling and re-skilling of the
workforce and adopting amongst others of a regulatory environment,
which promotes formalization through easier compliance and adequate safeguards
for labour rights.
13.
We acknowledge
various innovative approaches that have been implemented in BRICS member states
aimed at reducing informality and facilitating the access of
workers to social protection and to formal
markets and we pledge to continue our efforts on implementing such actions.
Social Protection
14.
We recognize
that a crucial way in which governments can positively influence labour market
outcomes and reduce exclusion and poverty is by providing social protection to
its workers. Those who work, and those who are too young or old or unable to
work, require protection from idiosyncratic and economy-wide shocks and
unanticipated events.
15.
We recognize the innovative
capacity of our nations in responding to their particular national
circumstances and evolving social protection systems that aim to strike the
balance between work-incentives, improving human capital and income
protection. We resolve to undertake policy measures in a comprehensive manner,
with particular attention to including those in the informal economy and
outside the scope of the existing schemes.
16.
We support
designing and implementation of comprehensive social security systems that are
effective, equitable, economically sustainable and address the needs of the
society. We therefore endorse the portability of social security benefits for
migrant workers encourage bi-lateral social security
agreements amongst the BRICS member states and work towards developing a general
framework for cooperation.
Way Forward
17.
We reiterate our
commitment, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 8, to continue
to promote inclusive and sustainable growth, employment and decent work for all
with a view to end poverty in all its forms in BRICS member states by 2030. In
doing this, we acknowledge all the current initiatives taken including
commitment towards ensuring decent work for all, formalization of the informal
economy and the extension of social protection.
18.
We are committed
to take steps to establish a network of lead labour research and training
institutions in BRICS member states for undertaking joint research and training
activities, capacity building of various stakeholders and exchange of
information in areas of expertise, with
the cooperation of international organizations in particular the ILO.
19.
We thank our
social partners for their inputs in addressing labour and employment
challenges. We intend to strengthen our tripartite social dialogue processes
for advancing labour market development and promotion of stronger labour market
outcomes.
20.
We recognise the
importance of evidence based research in informing our policy decisions on
labour and employment issues and acknowledge the contributions of ILO,
and the International Social Security Association (ISSA) and national
organizations in supporting BRICS co-operation in these areas. We will continue
our close cooperation with these and other international organizations.
21.
We thank the
Indian Presidency for holding the first formal BEWG at Hyderabad, India, on
July 27-28, 2016. We further express our appreciation to the Indian leadership in
organizing the Labour and Employment Ministerial Meeting at the sidelines of
ILC, Geneva in June 2016, and the Second Labour and Employment Ministerial
meeting at New Delhi, India. We look forward to our next meeting under the
Presidency of the People’s Republic of China.
******
AT