On July 14th, the Eighth BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting was held virtually. Mr. ZHOU Zuyi, Minister of Human Resources and Social Security of China chaired the meeting and delivered a keynote speech. The Meeting discussed topics including promoting green jobs for sustainable development, developing skills for a resilient recovery and protecting workers’ rights in new forms of employment, reviewed the research findings of the BRICS Network of Labour Research Institutes, and adopted the outcome documents—the Declaration of the Eighth BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting and the BRICS Guidance on Protecting the Workers’ Rights in New Forms of Employment. The Meeting made it clear that the labour and employment ministers would respond to the call of BRICS leaders, demonstrate the confidence and resolution to achieve a human-centered recovery, and work together for stronger, healthier and sustainable global development.

Mr. Zhou introduced the measures taken and the results achieved by the Chinese government in promoting green jobs, carrying out vocational skills training and safeguarding the labour rights and interests of workers in new forms of employment. He reiterated that the Chinese government had always been adhering to the people-centered development philosophy, following the path of common prosperity, and implementing the employment-first policy to promote employment through development and ensure people’s livelihood through employment.

Minister ZHOU put forward three suggestions on BRICS cooperation for labour and employment: first, upholding solidarity and cooperation to build a community of shared future for the world of work; second, putting people first to achieve a human-centered recovery; third, promoting innovations to create a better future of work.

The Meeting was joined by Mr. José Carlos Oliveira, Minister of Labour and Social Secuirty of Brazil, Mrs. Olga Batalina, First Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Russia, Mr. Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Labour and Employment of India, Ms. Boitumelo Moloi, Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour of South Africa, Mr. Guy Ryder, Director General of the International Labour Organization, and Mr. Joachim Breuer, President of the International Social Security Association. Mr. YU Jiadong, Vice Minister of Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China, Mr. JIANG Guangping, Vice Chairman of All-China Federation of Trade Unions, and Mr. ZHU Hongren, Executive Vice Chairman and Director General of China Enterprises Confederation also attended the Meeting.