The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Legal Regulation of Fixed-Term Employment Contracts in the BRICS Countries

Abstract

The article examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the regulation of fixed term employment contracts in BRICS countries. It analyzes different regulatory approaches, ranging from restrictive models (Brazil, Russia, Indonesia, Ethiopia) to liberal (India, China, UAE) and mixed models (South Africa, Egypt, Iran). The pandemic highlighted the need to strike a balance between business flexibility and worker protection, leading to temporary labour law liberalization in some countries and enhanced social guarantees in others. The role of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and its standards during the crisis is given special attention. Using Indonesia and India as examples the article demonstrates how the crisis acted as a catalyst for long planned reforms. The importance of adhering to ILO labour standards to ensure a minimum level of protection in extraordinary circumstances is emphasized.