BRICS Forum adopts Hyderabad Declaration on labor rights

The 15th BRICS Trade Union Forum concluded in Hyderabad on July 15, 2026, with the adoption of a comprehensive declaration focused on protecting workers amid rapid technological change. The three-day summit, held from July 14-16 under India’s BRICS presidency, brought together trade union representatives from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and partner nations to deliberate on the future of labor.

The resulting Hyderabad Declaration calls for a human-centric approach to artificial intelligence, universal social security, stronger labor rights, and gender-inclusive workplaces. It specifically urges that AI systems should not make final decisions on hiring, promotions, or terminations without meaningful human oversight and that workers must retain the right to challenge automated decisions. The document also welcomed the International Labour Organization’s newly adopted Convention on Decent Work in the Platform Economy and urged BRICS governments to align domestic laws to ensure gig and platform workers enjoy trade union rights and social protection.

A parallel meeting of BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers, also held in Hyderabad on July 15, adopted a ministerial...