Dubai: The UAE highlighted its pioneering labour market model at the BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' Meeting (LEMM) 2026, showcasing a strategy built on public-private sector collaboration, agile legislation, skills development and the use of artificial intelligence to support workforce growth and economic competitiveness.Dr Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, represented the UAE at the meeting, which was hosted by India as part of its BRICS presidency.Addressing the gathering, Al Awar said that social protection, women's empowerment, skills development and digital transformation are key pillars for creating resilient and sustainable labour markets.He noted that the UAE has developed a labour market based on strong cooperation between government and the private sector, supported by a flexible legislative framework and policies designed to attract global talent and adapt to technological change."The UAE is home to workers from more than 200 nationalities, making it one of the most diverse labour markets in the world," Al Awar said.He highlighted the impact of the country's labour market reforms, noting that over the past five years:The size of the private-sector workforce has more than doubled.The number of registered companies has increased by 46%.Women's participation in the labour market has grown by 109%.According to Al Awar, these results reflect the effectiveness of national policies aimed at stimulating economic growth and creating employment opportunities.AI at the centre of labour market transformationAl Awar emphasised the growing role of artificial intelligence in shaping the future of work, describing AI as a strategic tool that can help governments move from automating services to anticipating labour market needs.He said the UAE is increasingly using AI to enhance services for employers and employees, improve compliance, support predictive labour market analysis and strengthen decision-making."The UAE is moving towards an advanced stage of employing artificial intelligence to provide innovative services for workers and the business sector, helping build a more responsive, proactive and human-centric government," he said.Strengthening worker protectionThe minister also highlighted the UAE's use of digital platforms to strengthen labour protections, including systems that support wage protection, occupational health and safety, and labour dispute resolution.He noted that advanced technologies, predictive analytics and smart monitoring tools are being used to identify workplace risks and enable early intervention.Al Awar added that the UAE continues to develop its social protection framework to keep pace with emerging forms of employment, particularly platform-based and digital work.Skills for future jobsThe UAE's AI-powered Skills Platform was also showcased during the meeting as a tool for anticipating future job requirements and aligning education and training programmes with labour market demand.Al Awar stressed that investing in human capital and future skills remains essential to ensuring long-term labour market resilience and competitiveness.BRICS declaration adoptedAt the conclusion of the meeting, member states adopted the BRICS Labour and Employment Ministers' Declaration, which outlines priorities for cooperation in areas including:Social protectionSkills developmentWomen's participation in the workforceDigital transformation in labour marketsThe UAE welcomed the declaration and reaffirmed its commitment to working with BRICS member states to develop policies and solutions that support more inclusive, resilient and sustainable labour markets worldwide.
