[Title] The BRICS Guidance on Protecting the Rights of Workers in New Forms of Employment

1. We note that digital technology, especially mobile Internet technology, has given rise to new forms of employment represented by digital labour platforms. The continued ravages of Covid-19 have further accelerated the proliferation of new forms of employment in various industries. We observe that the emergence and rapid growth of new forms of employment is changing the future of work.

2. We agree that, for BRICS countries, new forms of employment have brought opportunities, met the needs of employers and employees, and become an important means to create new jobs. The new forms of employment also provide opportunities to young people, women, people with disabilities, elderly, migrants, the low-skilled and the long-term unemployed among others to earn relatively higher incomes, contributing to the inclusive growth of the BRICS economies. We are also aware that the rapid development of new forms of employment poses new challenges to the protection of workers' rights.

3. We recall the ILO Centenary Declaration for the Future of Work in 2019, and remain committed to the BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' Declarations, including that on governance in the future of work (China, 2017), future of work in the digital economy (Russia, 2020), and the role of gig and platform workers in the labour market (India, 2021). We will continue to promote the human-centered approach to shape the future of work and protect the rights of workers in newforms of employment.

4. We recognize that multiple contractual arrangements exist simultaneously for workers in new forms of employment. We will strive to make the classification of employment status clear, accurate and consistent and emphasize the need to respect the rights of people working through digital platforms and provide them with appropriate protections.

5. We reaffirm the principles of decent work and fair labour practice and the need to promote equal access to various job opportunities brought about by digital technologies for workers in new forms of employment.

6. We recognize that workers in new forms of employment shall enjoy an adequate amount of rest to maintain their physical and mental health well-being.

7. We will support the improvement of national standards for occupational safety and health protection and encourage training and education for workers and enterprises to minimize occupational injuries that workers in newforms of employment may face in the course of their work.

8. We will take into account the unique challenges of social security for workers in new forms of employment and improve our respective countries' social security systems, in an effort to provide access to social security for all workers.

9. We support trade unions' efforts and encourage social dialogue, including collective bargaining and tripartite cooperation to improve working conditions for new forms of employment, based on the characteristics of the industry as per national circumstances.

10. We recognize the positive role of a corporate culture of care and support for workers and encourage employers to create such culture for workers in newforms of employment. We also support companies to improve transparency and fairness of their platform algorithms and democratic participation as an important way to protect workers in new forms of employment.

11. We strive to provide advisory services on labour policies among others, for workers and enterprises involved in new forms of employment, and employment services for all types of workers engaged in new forms of employment during the process of digital transformation.

12. We welcome relevant government departments domestically to strengthen communication, share data resources, innovate in collaborative governance models and increase the level and capacity of digital governance to enable more efficient protection of workers' rights in new forms of employment.

13. We will promote mediation and arbitration of relevant labour disputes in the light of our national conditions so as to protect the rights of workers in newforms of employment.

14. We support exploring national statistical methods for collecting data on workers in new forms of employment and their working conditions, so as to provide guidance for future policy-making related to them.

15. We welcome initiatives of the BRICS Network of Labour Research Institutes to continue in-depth studies on protecting the rights of workers in newforms of employment. We will maintain regular and close contact with relevant international organizations when necessary, and share advanced legislative experiences and good practices on the protection of workers' rights in newforms of employment with other countries.

16. We welcome the ILO's continued cooperation and further discussions with its constituents, including BRICS countries, and other international organizations about international labour standards on the protection of workers' rights in new forms of employment.