Leaders back new ‘BRICS CONNECT’ platform to map skills, prepare future-ready workforce

Leaders from the BRICS group of major emerging economies have agreed to bolster cooperation through a new platform called Brics CONNECT. The platform aims to map skills needs and prepare a workforce ready for the future by analyzing labor market trends in digital, green, care and other priority sectors. The New Delhi Declaration, adopted by BRICS leaders, recognized the transformative role of digital technologies in social protection and inclusiveness for workers' welfare.

It also called for innovative approaches to increase social protection coverage in the gig and platform economy. Brics CONNECT will facilitate the exchange of policies and technologies related to jobs, skills, and social security, with a focus on gig and platform workers. The platform aligns with four priority areas: advancing social security, enhancing female labor force participation, cooperations on employability and skills mapping, and leveraging technology for workers' well-being.

The declaration also proposed establishing capacity-building centers for BRICS member states to create a "future-ready workforce." Experts, however, noted that India needs stronger systems to identify skill gaps and prepare workers for changing labor markets.