Important Facts For Prelims
BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting 2022
- 15 Jul 2022
- 4 min read
Why in News?
Recently, the Union Minister for Labour & Employment attended the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting held under the Chinese Presidency.
What is BRICS?
- About:
- BRICS is an acronym for the grouping of the world’s leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
- In 2001, the British Economist Jim O’Neill coined the term BRIC to describe the four emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
- The grouping was formalised during the first meeting of BRIC Foreign Ministers in 2006.
- South Africa was invited to join BRIC in December 2010, after which the group adopted the acronym BRICS.
- Share of BRICS:
- The BRICS brings together five of the largest developing countries of the world, representing 41% of the global population, 24% of the global GDP and 16% of the global trade.
- Chairmanship:
- The chairmanship of the forum is rotated annually among the members, in accordance with the acronym B-R-I-C-S.
- China is the chair for 2022.
What are the Key Highlights?
- Discussed Three Priority Areas:
- Promoting Green Jobs for Sustainable Development
- Developing Skills for Resilient Recovery
- Protecting Workers’ Right in New Forms of Employment.
What are ‘green jobs’?
- ‘Green jobs’ refer to a class of jobs that directly have a positive impact on the planet, and contribute to the overall environmental welfare.
- Jobs involving renewable energy, conservation of resources, ensuring energy efficient means are categorised under the same.
- In all, they’re aimed at reducing the negative environmental impact of economic sectors and furthering the process of creating a low-carbon economy.
- The idea behind a low-carbon economy or decarbonisation is fairly simple — it is about maintaining a sustainable economy, one that doesn’t lead to vast emissions of greenhouse gasses, especially carbon dioxide.
- Indian Stand:
- India elucidated the steps taken by India to provide relief to workers during the pandemic.
- Highlighted various initiatives taken towards providing free ration, enhancing the number of days of assured employment under MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme), collateral free loans provided to 2.9 million street vendors to help them resume their businesses under PMSVANidhi Yojana during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- The Climate change is necessitating a shift towards more sustainable development and green jobs.
- A Sector Council for Green Jobs has been set up in India to develop strategy and implement programs for Skill development in green sector.
- India elucidated the steps taken by India to provide relief to workers during the pandemic.
- Declaration Adopted:
- One of the significant outcomes of the aforesaid meeting was the adoption of the BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Declaration.
- The Declaration recognized the need for promoting green jobs for sustainable development, strengthening of cooperation in skills development and; protection of workers’ rights in new forms of employment.
