Cabinet okays BRICS nations' pact on cooperation in social, labour sphere

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an agreement signed among BRICS nations for cooperation in the social and labour sphere, an official statement said.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its approval for the Memorandum of Understanding among India, Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa, regarding cooperation in the social and labour sphere.

The MoU was signed on August 3 during the BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers (LEM) meeting in Durban, South Africa.

The agreement provides for a mechanism for cooperation, collaboration and synergy among BRICS member countries with the common objective of inclusive growth and shared prosperity in the new industrial revolution.

The five member countries have agreed to cooperate and organise events in areas such as labour legislation and enforcement, protection of workers' rights with a focus on vulnerable groups, employment and labour market policies, professional education, skills and training and social protection.

The member countries may utilize the BRICS Network of Labour Research Institutes and BRICS Social Security Cooperation Framework for cooperation in social security and other labour issues.

The pact is not an international treaty and does not create rights and obligations for the parties governed by international law, the government release said.

--IANS

akk/shs/sed