7th BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Meeting

Current Context: The Union Minister for Labour Employment Bhupender Yadav chaired the 7th edition of the BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Meeting.

• The meeting was held under India’s Presidency.
• The meeting was arranged to exchange views on the impact of Covid-19 on the global labour market.
• The dignitaries discussed 4 major areas of cooperation like Promoting Social Security Agreements amongst BRICS Nations; Formalisation of Labour Markets; Participation of Women in the Labour Force; and Gig and Platform Workers: Role in the Labour Market.
• They adopted BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Declaration. The declaration mentioned that the pandemic has made a negative impact on employment, and has led to decent work deficits and inequality.
• It mentioned that the BRICS nations are supposed to cooperate jointly to recover the economy from pandemics and have inclusive labour markets and social protection systems.
• The Union Minister Bhupender Yadav highlighted the simplification and codification of labour laws of India into four labour codes: (a) ‘The Code on Wages 2019’ (b) ‘The Code on Social Security 2020’ (c) ‘The Industrial Relations Code 2020’ (d) ‘The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code 2020’.
• He mentioned that these simplifications and codification of labour laws will help to formalize the labour market, increase the participation of women in the labour force and employment.
• He mentioned the need that BRICS nations should sign Social Security agreements to have the welfare of the international migrant workers.

Question: 

Q.1 Who represented and chaired the 7th edition of the BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers’ Meeting from India?
a. Hardeep Singh Puri
b. Bhupender Yadav
c. G Kishan Reddy
d. Parshottam Rupala