BRICS Employment Working Group Meeting 2024 Convened in Sochi, Russia

Current Context: The BRICS Employment Working Group (EWG) Meeting 2024 was held in Sochi, Russia, under the Russian Presidency. This was the second and final EWG meeting for the year.

• Key Highlights:
• Participants:
• Delegates from BRICS member states: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
• Representatives from new member states: UAE, Egypt, and Iran.
• International organizations: International Labour Organization (ILO) and International Social Security Association (ISSA).
• Indian Delegation:
• Led by Dr. Mahendra Kumar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour & Employment.
• Agenda and Discussions:
• Finalizing the Ministerial Declaration: The meeting focused on drafting the Labour and Employment Ministers’ Meeting declaration, which will be adopted during the Labour and Employment Ministers’ meeting scheduled for September 9-10, 2024.
• Priority Areas:
• Strategies for life-long learning and vocational guidance.
• Modernization of employment services.
• Ensuring safe and healthy working conditions.
• Social support mechanisms.
• Indian Emphasis: The Indian delegation highlighted the importance of re-skilling and up-skilling the workforce to meet the demands of the changing world of work.

Question:

1 Which of the following countries were new participants in the 2024 BRICS Employment Working Group (EWG) Meeting?

• A) UAE, Egypt, and Iran
• B) Japan, South Korea, and Australia
• C) Canada, Mexico, and Germany
• D) Argentina, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia

Answer: A) In the 2024 BRICS Employment Working Group (EWG) Meeting, new member states included the UAE, Egypt, and Iran.