Informal Sector Statistics MALDIVES Informal Sector Statistics Informal Sector Statistics Training Bangkok, Thailand | 14-15 November 2017

Outline of presentation Definition of informal sector Status of the informal sector in your country Country policies for informal sector Current statistics being produced What data sources do you collect? National Accounts and the informal sector Country specific issues in statistics Development plans How development partners can help

Definitions All economic activities that are not regulated by any government authority are considered as the informal sector. Or economic activities undertaken within the households and not having any fixed business location are considered as the informal sector

Definitions If an employee does not have a contract, and employer does not contribute to pension scheme and employer does not contribute to health insurance scheme is considered as the informal employment.

Status of informal sector statistics Key indicators Figure 1: Summary statistics of 15+ population

Status of informal sector statistics Composition of population by broad age groups, 2006 and 2014

Status of informal sector statistics Employed, unemployed and working age population, 2006 and 2014

Country polices Promote employment and enterprising opportunities for vulnerable groups, particularly women and youth Foster formation of co-operatives in sectors such as agriculture, fisheries and craft making and empower informal workers to carry out income generating activities as a recognized and registered legal vehicle.

Country polices Encourage formalization of informal enterprises through regulation and incentives. Expand safety nets available to workers operating in the informal economy.

Data sources Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) Census HIES 2016 attempt to cover the informal sector Data would be represented at the Atoll level This survey would be conducted in every 5 years Census Economic Survey Labor Force Survey

National Accounts Adjustment for informal sector is done only in the benchmark year. The adjustment is based on commodity flow approach Value added per employee Number of employees

Issues Issues Maldives face/need to resolve Currently there is no proper mechanism to compile data on informal sector The frequency of the Survey cycle very much depends on the availability of funds SDG indicators for goals 8 &10 The data for the indicators on goal 8 & 10 will be available through HIES 2016, which will be published on December 2017 (no data on disability available through any surveys)

Development plans for NSO Plans to develop and enhance informal sector statistics HIES 2016 data analysis to be completed by December 2017 Incorporate in the upcoming NSDS revision process

Development partners Provide technical expertise on guidance/assistance on improving the Informal sector; Guideline on the analysis of informal sector using the HIES 2016 Conduct a data mapping exercise on existing data sources (censuses, surveys and administrative data) on Informal sector

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