Preparing for labour force survey

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 17 June 2017, 12:00AM

A survey to gather statistics on youth labour for the age group of 15 to 24 will start in July.

It will be carried out by the Samoa Bureau of Statistics, the International Labour Organization (I.L.O) and the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour (M.C.I.L.).

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, A.C.E.O Social and Environmental Statistics Division, Papali’i Benjamin Sila, said the survey is critical for Samoa.

 “The survey is about gathering statistical information on labour statistics such as statistics on unemployment, employment, mobility, occupational injuries and all those aspects that involve people in the labor market,” he said.

“We will be targeting the youth as well as in from 15 years to 24 years old because at the same time we are trying to measure the transition of the youth in relation to what they will be doing after school.

“Whether they will be employed, seeking employment or whether they are not interested. So we really want to capture the whole labour market in Samoa.”

The statistics help formulate development policies.

 “What’s important about these statistics is that it will give indicators to policy makers about where they want to direct all the effort in terms of policy formation rather than just giving out something in general.

“With this we are trying to be specific.”

The survey will go on for five weeks.

It starts on 24 July until 26 August 2017.

“Prior to that we will be doing a very intensive three weeks training for all the numerators and on top of that we will be using a new technology called C.A.P.I. (Computer Aided Paper Interview).

“So we won’t be using a paper interview as what we used to do but we will be using tablets so everything will be electronic. This will minimise errors and save time.”

The training started this week.

This is the second round of the Samoa Labor Force Survey.

The first one was done in 2012.

Asked what the major challenges are, Papali’i said it’s trying to incorporate the I.L.O. framework and everything into a local concept.

 “Not everything that applies overseas is applicable in Samoa so we are trying to contextualise everything and that is why we are happy that we have Tite from the Regional I.L.O and Tomasi from here so we can consult and merge together rather than I.L.O just come and say ‘Samoa do that.’ 

“So we have to consult and come up with the ideas so that the terminologies and technical assistant is compatible and fit into our content.”

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 17 June 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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