HYDERABAD — Union Minister for Labour & Employment Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya officially inaugurated the 15th BRICS Trade Union Forum (TUF) Summit 2026 today in Hyderabad.
Addressing delegates from across the BRICS nations, Dr. Mandaviya advocated for a worker-centric global order, emphasizing that technological advancements must be guided by social justice, responsible innovation, and human dignity.
Major Milestones in India’s Social Protection and Job Creation
During his address, the Minister highlighted India’s massive expansion of its social safety net and workforce integration over the past decade:
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Unprecedented Social Security Expansion: India’s social protection coverage has surged from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025 (covering nearly 940 million people). Preliminary estimates for 2026 indicate that this coverage has now crossed the one billion citizen milestone.
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Massive Job Generation: Dr. Mandaviya noted that approximately 170 million employment opportunities have been created over the last ten years. 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 targeted employment-linked incentives.
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Robust Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): The government has leveraged platforms like the e-Shram portal (registering over 317 million unorganized workers) and the National Career Service Portal to streamline labor governance and connect job seekers with employers nationwide.
Tripartite Governance and Labor Reforms
The Minister outlined how India’s four unified Labour Codes have consolidated 29 complex laws into a single, simplified framework that guarantees universal minimum wages, improves occupational safety, and formally recognizes gig and platform workers for the first time.
He reiterated that India’s labor governance functions through a tripartite dialogue model involving the Government, employers, and trade unions—represented directly in massive bodies like the EPFO (80 million active members) and the ESIC (150 million beneficiaries).
Collaborative Action Across BRICS Nations
Organized by the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), the three-day summit brings together more than 50 international delegates alongside 70 Indian trade union representatives, labor experts, and academicians.
Under the leadership of BMS National President and Summit Chairman Shri Sunkari Mallesham, the forum will focus its deliberations on four critical pillars:
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Universal social security and the portability of benefits.
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Human-centric technology and responsible AI.
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Skill development for the future of work.
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Women’s participation in the changing world of work.
The recommendations formulated during this three-day summit will be presented at the upcoming BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting to drive policy alignment across member states.
