Union Labour Minister inaugurates 15th BRICS Trade Union Forum Summit in Hyderabad

📌 Summary:

• Union Labour Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated the 15th BRICS Trade Union Forum (TUF) Summit 2026 in Hyderabad; called for a worker-centric global order where technology is guided by social justice, responsible innovation and human dignity
• India's BRICS Presidency theme: "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability"
• Four Labour Codes have consolidated 29 labour laws into a simplified framework — universal minimum wages, appointment letters, occupational safety and health, digital compliance, and first-ever formal recognition of gig and platform workers
• Digital public infrastructure for labour: e-Shram portal has registered 317 million+ unorganised workers; National Career Service Portal links job seekers, employers and training providers
• Social security architecture: EPFO has 80 million+ active members and 8 million pensioners (among world's largest); ESIC covers 150 million+ insured persons and dependants
• India's social protection coverage expanded from 19% (2015) to over one billion people (2026)

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 IR (BRICS grouping) + GS3 economy/GS2 governance — labour reforms, gig economy, social security, future of work

📝 Prelims Facts:

• 15th BRICS Trade Union Forum Summit held in Hyderabad
• India's BRICS Presidency theme 2026: "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability"
• e-Shram: 317 million+ registered unorganised workers
• EPFO: 80 million+ members, 8 million pensioners; ESIC: 150 million+ insured
• Four Labour Codes consolidate 29 laws

🔑 Key Term: Four Labour Codes — the Codes on Wages, Industrial Relations, Social Security, and Occupational Safety, Health & Working Conditions, which subsume 29 central labour laws.