PHILIPSBURG:--- The department of STAT commenced its household survey on Monday stated head of the department Makini Persaud Hickinson. Hickson told reporters on Monday that the last time a labor survey was conducted was in 2013. She said this year the department selected 1,200 households that must take part in the survey by providing information posed by the 10 to 13 interviewers that will be knocking on their doors during the daytime hours up to 7:30 pm. Also, present at the press conference is the senior statistician and project leader Joy-Ann Van Arneman, and Julian Lake from the Ministry of TEATT. The survey which kicked off on Monday is expected to last some six to eight weeks, the projected date for the completion of the survey is March 11th.
The interviewers will focus on the current labor situation on St. Maarten, the aim is to get as much data on the current labor situation in the community, Interviewers will provide the households with a three-part questionnaire, all information submitted to the department of STAT during this survey will remain confidential and will only be used to calculate the current unemployment rate on St. Maarten especially among the younger generation. Persons that were selected to participate in the survey will have to provide information on their working status, education, if unemployed, the type of work they are looking for.
Joy Ann Arneman the project leader assured that the information given to the interviewers will not be shared thus she urged the selected households to participate to their fullest in order for the department to get proper data. She said those people who refused to participate in the survey can well face a fine as defined in the law.
Household survey kicks off Monday --- Selected participants urged to cooperate if not face fines.
