Mansukh Mandaviya Inaugurates 15th BRICS Trade Union Forum Summit In Hyderabad

Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Tuesday inaugurated the 15th BRICS Trade Union Forum (TUF) Summit in Hyderabad, calling for a worker-centric global order where technological progress is guided by social justice, responsible innovation and human dignity. Addressing delegates from BRICS nations, he said India’s BRICS Presidency theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability,” reflects the country’s commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable future of work centred on workers’ welfare.

Highlighting the Centre’s labour reforms, Mandaviya said the four Labour Codes have consolidated 29 existing labour laws into a simplified framework while strengthening workers’ rights. He noted that the reforms provide for universal minimum wages, mandatory appointment letters, improved occupational safety and health standards, digital compliance mechanisms, and formal recognition of gig and platform workers. He added that these measures aim to modernise labour governance while ensuring greater protection for the workforce.

The minister also outlined India's efforts to leverage digital public infrastructure for labour administration. He said the e-Shram portal has registered more than 317 million unorganised workers, enabling them to access various welfare schemes. He added that the National Career Service Portal connects job seekers, employers, career centres and training institutions through a nationwide digital employment platform, helping improve employment opportunities and workforce mobility.

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Speaking on social security, Mandaviya said the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), with over 80 million active members and eight million pensioners, is among the world’s largest social security institutions. He also highlighted the role of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), which provides healthcare and social security benefits to more than 150 million insured persons and their dependants. According to the minister, India’s social protection coverage has increased from 19 per cent in 2015 to 64.3 per cent in 2025, covering nearly 940 million people, with preliminary estimates indicating that the figure has crossed one billion in 2026.

On employment generation, Mandaviya said nearly 170 million employment opportunities have been created over the past decade. He also highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana, which aims to generate 35 million formal sector jobs over the next two years through employment-linked incentives. Stressing the importance of collaborative policymaking, he said India’s labour governance model is based on tripartite dialogue involving the government, employers and trade unions to ensure balanced and inclusive decision-making.

The minister noted that BRICS countries account for nearly half of the world’s population and represent one of the largest labour forces globally, creating significant opportunities for cooperation in areas such as social security, labour mobility, skill development, artificial intelligence governance and decent work. The three-day summit, organised by the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), has brought together more than 50 international delegates and around 70 representatives from Indian trade unions, labour experts and academicians. Discussions during the summit will focus on universal social security, portability of benefits, responsible AI, future workforce skills and the evolving role of women in the world of work.

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