Declaration of the 15th BRICS Trade Union Forum (Hyderabad, India. 14-16 July, 2026)
15th BRICS Trade Union Forum
Declaration
“Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”
1. The 15th BRICS Trade Union Forum, comprising representatives of the national trade union centers of the BRICS member and partner countries, is convened under the Indian Presidency in Hyderabad, India, from 14 to 16 July 2026 under the BRICS theme, Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability. The Forum provides a valuable opportunity to bring about transformative progress in the world of work. The future of work must be inclusive, equitable, and beneficial to all.
2. The BRICS TUF is delighted to congratulate the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and its tripartite constituents on the adoption of the historic Convention on Decent Work in the Platform Economy, 2026. It once again demonstrates the effectiveness of the tripartite system functioning within the ILO. We remain guided by the principles and International Labour Standards (ILS) established by the ILO. The Forum calls on the governments of BRICS countries to expedite the alignment of their national legislation with the provisions of the Decent Work Convention in the digital platform economy, and to ensure decent work including the recognition and respect of trade union rights, collective bargaining, and social protection for digital platform workers, achieving a balance between economic innovation and social justice.
3. The Forum recognises that employers and governments should strive to foster harmonious labour relations in order to enhance both productivity and labour welfare. It affirms that confluence, rather than conflict, within the labour sector can yield enduring and sustainable solutions. Social dialogue and collective bargaining are the most effective means of promoting productive enterprises, decent work and social justice, while recognising the legitimate role of collective action in defending workers’ rights.
4. The BRICS TUF affirms that an integral vision, harmonious coexistence, organic and natural cohesion in social relations, the upholding of values, the decentralised and equitable distribution of the gains of growth, socially oriented development patterns, an environment-friendly approach, and the principle of need rather than greed as the driving force of economic activity should serve as the guiding principles of global Cooperation.
Impact of AI and Technology
5. The Forum notes that the world of work is undergoing an unprecedented transformation driven by technological innovation, the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation and robotics, the rapid expansion of digitalisation and platformisation of work, changing production systems, redefined labour relations, and evolving global value chains. While these developments create significant opportunities, they also present tough challenges. To address the changing realities of the world of work, BRICS countries must explore new approaches and policy responses. When guided by inclusive policies, technological advancement can become a powerful instrument for economic growth, productivity enhancement, human development, and social progress.
6. The BRICS Trade Union Forum recognises the immense potential of technological innovation while simultaneously expressing concern over issues such as job displacement, challenges to workers’ rights, rise in discriminatory practices, growing inequality, increasing informalisation of work, social and digital exclusion, algorithmic management, digital surveillance, threats to privacy, and challenges related climate. These transformations are reshaping workplaces, production systems, and employment patterns, while interacting with demographic changes, labour mobility, and increasing cross-border migration of the workforce. Despite governments’ efforts to formalise the economy, workers are increasingly being informalised as a consequence of ongoing changes in the business environment. Labour rights must therefore be protected throughout this transition. The Forum calls for the development of national and international frameworks to address the above issues and promote digital literacy programmes, protect workers’ data, and provide effective remedies against unfair automated decision-making. Artificial intelligence systems shall not make final decisions regarding employment, performance evaluation, disciplinary actions, or termination of employment without effective human oversight and guaranteeing workers’ right to object to these decisions.
7. The Forum declares that in this era of rapid technological advancement, technology and AI must assist human beings and not replace them and technology should be harnessed responsibly to ensure AI for good and for all. Technology should never become a tool for discriminate practices, unchecked greed, or profit maximisation. Nor should it undermine labour rights, workers’ welfare, or human dignity, or adversely affect employment, working conditions, occupational safety and health, productivity assessment, workforce management, green transitions, and climate policies. Technological innovation and AI governance must be people-centered, equitable, accountable, and inclusive. Human beings must remain at the centre of economic transformation. Technological progress must serve humanity and contribute to social welfare. Workers and their representative organisations should participate in the design, deployment, and monitoring of AI systems.
8. Governments are advised to ensure that technological progress benefits all sections of society and that productivity gains arising from it are shared equitably. Such gains must be harnessed from a workers’ perspective, ensuring that technology serves humanity, workers participate in technological decision-making, and the benefits of innovation are distributed fairly across society through effective social dialogue. Governments may consider formulating worker-friendly industrial policies and establish frameworks for the ethical, safe, transparent, accountable, and non-discriminatory use of AI in workplaces, following meaningful engagement with trade unions.
9. The Forum emphasises that newly emerging forms of work, including gig work and digital platform work, could be governed by decent work standards. They should enjoy decent work and labour rights, irrespective of their employment classification.
Working Women
10. The Forum reaffirms that women workers are indispensable contributors to economic development, and hence must be recognised as agents of change rather than merely as beneficiaries of development initiatives. The participation of women in the labour force must be significantly enhanced, with greater opportunities for leadership.
11. Despite notable progress, women continue to face multiple barriers, including unequal pay, occupational segregation, disproportionate unpaid care responsibilities, discrimination, violence, and harassment in the workplace. At a time when digitalisation is transforming social and economic relations, digital inclusion and gender-responsive technological transformation consistent with gender-equality standards are imperative.
12. Priority areas for cooperation among BRICS countries should include advancing women’s rights and economic empowerment, expanding access to quality and affordable childcare and elder-care services, extending family-friendly working-time arrangements for all workers, improving labour rights and social-protection coverage for paid care workers, integrating care-sensitive indicators into macroeconomic and labour-market policies and ensuring affordable access to digital devices and data, gender-responsive digital-skills training, safe online environments, and effective regulatory frameworks to prevent and remedy online harassment, surveillance, and legal protection against technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
13. Women’s participation in labour-intensive and hazardous industries and occupations must be supported through gender-responsive occupational safety and health (OSH) protections. Effective legal protection must be ensured against discriminatory workplace cultures, and the absence of maternity-sensitive risk assessments.
14. The Forum emphasises the importance of a just transition by promoting green jobs and increasing women’s representation and participation in climate and environmental related jobs at all levels. The Forum further emphasizes that green transition and climate change mitigation policies must not come at the expense of workers or local communities, and that the principle of Just Transition must be an essential part of industrial, environmental, and social policies in BRICS countries. We encourage all BRICS countries to ratify and effectively implement ILO Convention No. 190 concerning ending violence and harassment in the world of work.
15. Women-owned enterprises should be provided with enhanced access to finance, markets, business networks, and technology through tailored financial instruments, public procurement strategies that favour women-owned enterprises, and supportive regulatory environments for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
16. Entrepreneurship and skill enhancement among women must be actively promoted. There is a pressing need for gender-responsive skills development, with particular emphasis on “science, technology, engineering and mathematics” (STEM), digital competencies, and green skills.
Social Security
17. The BRICS Trade Union Forum reminds that social security has been recognised as a universal human right.
18. “Social Security for All,” or universal social protection coverage extending to the last worker, must become the new clarion call of development across the globe. We call upon BRICS governments to expand universal, adequate, and sustainable social protection systems covering all workers, including informal workers, self-employed workers, migrant workers, platform workers, agricultural workers, and workers engaged in non-standard forms of employment.
19. As labour mobility continues to increase, the portability of social security assumes growing importance. Workers and their dependents should be able to retain, transfer, and utilise their social-security rights across jurisdictions without loss of benefits.
20. Social security systems should provide lifelong protection including retirement benefits.
Skills Development
21. We affirm that skills development must be guided by a human-centred approach that places workers' rights, dignity, well-being, and lifelong learning at the centre of economic transformation. We call on BRICS governments, employers, and trade unions to invest in accessible, quality, and inclusive education, vocational training, reskilling, and upskilling opportunities throughout workers' lives, ensuring that no worker is left behind in the digital, industrial, and green transitions.
22. We further advocate for equal access to skills development for women, youth, migrant workers, workers in the informal economy, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups, with particular attention to addressing inequalities in access to employment and training opportunities.
23. We call for transition policies to be developed through effective social dialogue and collective bargaining, with the full participation of trade unions and workers' representatives at all levels. Workers and communities affected by economic restructuring, climate policies, automation, artificial intelligence, and technological change must receive adequate support, including income protection, retraining opportunities, job-placement assistance, and sustainable employment pathways.
24. Educational quality is affected by a mismatch between subject expertise and teaching skills, a shortage of highly qualified trainers in most institutions, inadequate laboratory facilities and practical training, and the need to adapt teaching methods to students' varying learning abilities, attention levels, and understanding capacity.
25. The BRICS Trade Union Forum notes that lifelong learning, reskilling, and upskilling constitute fundamental pillars of resilient employment systems. The future world of work, shaped by rapid technological advancements and Artificial Intelligence, requires a sustained commitment to lifelong learning rather than adherence to the outdated notion of “one-time education.” Technological transitions must not render existing jobs or workers redundant. Instead, workers should be equipped, empowered, and trained to adapt to emerging occupations, technologies, and new forms of work. They must continuously update their knowledge, competencies, and skills to remain productive, globally competitive, and relevant in an evolving labour market. Continuous learning not only enhances employability and career progression but also serves as a critical safeguard against technological disruption, workforce displacement, employment stagnation, and job loss. Governments, employers, trade unions, and educational institutions must work collaboratively to establish accessible, inclusive, and high-quality lifelong learning ecosystems that ensure no worker is left behind during technological and economic transitions.
26. BRICS countries should strengthen cooperation through skill-development partnerships, exploring the feasibility of mutual recognition of skills and certifications, and the establishment of a BRICS Skill Development Network as a collaborative institutional framework for sharing expertise, training methodologies, and best practices. The Forum further encourages cooperation among BRICS countries in research, innovation, training, worker education, and the exchange of best practices.
27. Governments, employers, trade unions, and educational institutions have shared responsibilities. They should collaborate to create accessible and affordable systems of continuous learning that equip workers with the competencies required for future occupations. Employers should be prepared to invest in workforce development, while trade unions should support workers by raising awareness of education and training opportunities. Such efforts will contribute to better wages and help bridge wage disparities between skilled and unskilled workers.
28. Skill development policies must remain market-oriented, worker-centred and aligned with national development priorities.
29. There is a need for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) mechanisms that acknowledge and validate traditional, informal, and experiential skills across BRICS nations.
30. Academic curricula and vocational education frameworks should be effectively integrated with industry and other productive economic activities so as to enhance employability.
31. The BRICS Trade Union Forum recognises that particular attention must be given to young workers entering new jobs, working women, persons with disabilities, migrant workers, indigenous communities, populations living in poverty, and workers engaged in vulnerable forms of employment. The Forum calls for the adoption of policies aimed at integrating youth into the labor market, combating unemployment, and promoting training opportunities, decent work, and sustainable entrepreneurship.
Future Trajectory
32. We emphasize that the transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient economies must be a just transition, placing workers and communities at its centre. No worker should bear the social and economic costs of climate action alone. Workers affected by decarbonisation, energy transition, industrial restructuring, and climate-related disruptions must be guaranteed access to social protection, income security, quality reskilling and upskilling programmes, and pathways to decent and sustainable employment.
We further call for investment in green industries, renewable energy, sustainable manufacturing, climate-resilient infrastructure, public services, and the care economy as key drivers of quality job creation across BRICS countries.
We stress that adequate, predictable, accessible, and equitable climate finance is fundamental to achieving both climate objectives and sustainable development goals. Developed countries must fulfil and enhance their climate finance commitments in line with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.
Climate finance should support mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage responses, technology transfer, capacity building, and the creation of decent jobs through a just transition. Such financing must not increase debt burdens on developing countries and should prioritize public investment, concessional financing mechanisms, and support for vulnerable workers and communities.
33. We recognise that workers remain at the centre of economic growth, technological transformation, and social progress. The future of BRICS cooperation must be founded upon a more equitable and multi-polar world order that leaves no worker behind.
34. We reaffirm that trade unions must have an institutional role within BRICS governance mechanisms and decision-making processes. Meaningful social dialogue and effective tripartite cooperation are essential to addressing emerging challenges and ensuring that economic growth translates into improved living standards for working people. We further reaffirm the commitments embodied in previous declarations of the BRICS Trade Union Forum.
35. We express deep concern regarding the continuing conflicts and instability in different regions of the world and their adverse consequences for workers, families, and communities, as millions of workers including migrants from labour-sending countries make invaluable contributions to the economies of nations. The Forum emphasizes that international peace, stability and non-hegemony are essential prerequisites for achieving development and decent work. We therefore call upon all parties to exercise maximum restraint, respect international law, prioritise dialogue, and pursue the peaceful resolution of disputes.
36. The BRICS Trade Unions Forum should always adhere to the BRICS spirit of openness, inclusiveness, cooperation and win-win results. Relying on the regular dialogue platform of the BRICS Trade Unions Forum, it should deepen mutual learning of policy experiences, and sharing of practical outcomes among trade unions of member states. It should focus on the protection of the rights and interests of key groups, such as workers in new forms of employment and female workers, and continuously advance lifelong vocational skills training to help workers adapt to industrial upgrading and the needs of economic and social development. Trade unions in BRICS countries should actively practice the "BRICS Plus" cooperation concept, continue to expand high-quality "Greater BRICS" partnership, steadily consolidate the foundation of BRICS trade union cooperation, and promote the delivery of more and fairer cooperative outcomes to the working masses of all countries, thus contributing the strength of trade unions to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
37. Cooperation among BRICS trade unions must be further strengthened on issues affecting the world of work and in developing collective responses to emerging global challenges. The Forum calls for the establishment of a permanent institutional mechanism for dialogue between trade unions and BRICS countries, ensuring the regular participation of trade union organizations in discussing the group's economic, social, and developmental policies.
38. We support continued efforts to strengthen South-South cooperation, enhance the role of the New Development Bank in financing sustainable development, promote equitable and inclusive global economic governance, and advance the objectives of the Global Coalition for Social Justice.
39. We recognise that regular data collection, aggregation, and the strengthening of gender-segregated statistics are essential for accurately assessing challenges and formulating effective responses.
40. The Forum recognizes the need for a "BRICS Network for Trade Union Cooperation" in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, digital work, and skills development, to exchange expertise and good practices, and to build trade union capacities in facing future transformations in the world of work.
41. We call upon trade unions, labour ministries, social partners, social security institutions, and relevant international organisations, including the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Social Security Association (ISSA), to work in tandem to achieve meaningful outcomes.
Hyderabad, India, 15 July 2026