The Statistical Unit of the Ministry of Social Protection (MoSP) last Monday started its biennial Occupational Wages and Hours of Work Survey (OWS) and its Skills Needs and Supplies Survey.
The reference period for the surveys will be June, 2017 to June, 2018, and information is to be secured from the wages and salaries sheets of business establishments, the Unit has announced.
In a recent statement, it said the Occupational Wages and Hours of Work Survey will be executed across all 10 regions and will cover questions on wages and hours of work of various occupations as well as employment costs components, statistics on wages and hours of work.
It noted that the data is essential in evaluating conditions of work and will also “facilitate efficient allocation of educational resources and overall educational planning, supply data for potential investors and employers, and aid in furnishing required statistics to trade unions and workers to facilitate effective collective bargaining process.”
The data is also expected to provide the groundwork for effective career planning and counselling.
The Skills Needs and Supply Survey, the Unit explained, will be simultaneously conducted in specific regions—Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Ten. “This survey is aimed at identification of gaps which may exist between Supply and Demand for various types of skills, in order to inform planning and future policy and subsequently result in implementation of the requisite corrective actions,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Unit, which has conducted 12 OWS and three Skills Needs and Supply Surveys thus far, stressed that confidentiality stipulations will be strictly adhered to, ensuring that the reports will not identify the individual businesses, but will highlight the various trends in industries. “The response rates from these surveys are expected to be fairly high, which will allow for greater accuracy in the reports,” it said.
The Labour Act, the Unit noted, requires businesses to submit labour statistics to the Ministry of Social Protection’s Labour Administration Department.
Further information and clarification on the surveys can be obtained from the Statistical Unit on phone numbers 223-7408 and 226-8996.
