FAQ BRICS EN

BRICS is a group of countries with emerging economies that seek to strengthen economic, political and social cooperation. The members are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Recently, new countries have been admitted: Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and Iran.

The motto is "Strengthening Global South Cooperation for More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance". The central idea is to promote more inclusive and sustainable global development, with a focus on economic cooperation and tackling climate change.

• The impact of Industry 4.0 and technological changes on the future of work.
• Automation and Artificial Intelligence.
• Education and skills development to prepare the workforce for the new digital economy.
• During the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a special focus on teleworking and accelerated digitalization.

The Brazilian Ministry of Labor and Employment chairs and coordinates the BRICS Employment Working Group (EWG), leading discussions on employment and labor policies among member countries.

The calendar of meetings of the BRICS Employment Working Group in 2025 is as follows:

• February 27th to 28th – 2nd Meeting (video conference)
• April 3rd to 4th – 3rd Meeting (video conference)
• April 22nd to 23th – 4th Meeting (in person)
• April 25th - Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting (LEMM) (in person)

The meeting, which will take place on April 25, 2025, in Brasília (DF), aims to present reports and studies produced by the BRICS Network of Labor Research Institutes and to draft a Joint Declaration of the Ministers of Labor and Employment with recommendations to the group's leaders.

Brazil has set two major priorities for the EWG in 2025:

• Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Work
• Impacts of Climate Change on the World of Work and a Just Transition

Digital transformation is revolutionizing the job market, driving automation and the emergence of new occupations, such as working on digital platforms. However, AI can also generate challenges, such as replacing human tasks, increasing inequalities, and reducing workers' incomes.

• The impact of AI and its generative version on the job market.
• The promotion of emerging industries that can generate new employment opportunities.
• The development of social protection policies for displaced workers, especially for vulnerable groups such as older workers and women.
• Encouraging a culture of continuous learning so that workers can upgrade their skills.

Climate change brings risks such as infrastructure disruption, job losses and increased economic vulnerability in various sectors. However, the transition to low-carbon economies also creates opportunities for green job creation, workforce upskilling and inclusive development.

• Reducing the specific impacts of climate change and climate policies on employment.
• Development of policies and strategies for a just transition that offers decent and sustainable work.
• Involvement of key partners and promotion of social dialogue to create decent jobs.
• Integration of occupational health and safety concerns into public policies to address climate impacts.