BRICS leaders back new BRICS CONNECT platform to map skills and prepare future-ready workforce

Source: Hindustan Times | Original Published At: 2026-09-14 02:16:36 UTC

Key Points

• BRICS leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration, which welcomed BRICS CONNECT, a cooperation network for capacity building, employability, and new skills and technologies.
• BRICS countries committed to strengthening collaboration on forecasting skills needs and analysing labour market trends in digital, green, care and other priority sectors.
• The declaration recognised the role of digital technologies in expanding social protection and called for tailored policy approaches for workers in the gig and platform economy.
• BRICS CONNECT will focus on advancing social security, enhancing female labour force participation, cooperating on employability and skills mapping, and leveraging technology for workers' well-being.
• The platform will complement the existing BRICS Virtual Liaison Office for cooperation and knowledge-sharing on social security.
• The declaration noted a proposal to establish capacity-building centres for BRICS member states to help create a future-ready workforce and align training with market demands.
• Experts cited gaps in India's skilling system, including low formal TVET participation and the need for stronger skill-gap analysis and deeper industry involvement.