This April the Economics and Statistics Office (ESO) began conducting two surveys: a spring Labour Force survey and a business survey. I understand that answering the questions in the business survey is mandatory, which implies that participating in the spring Labour Force survey is not. However, when a stranger turned up unexpectedly at my door saying they were conducting the spring Labour Force Survey and it was not a convenient time for me, I was told that complying with the survey is mandatory. Is this true?
Auntie’s answer: Yes, it is definitely true. An official with the Economics and Statistics Office confirmed that both surveys are mandatory.
To offer a bit of background, the ESO explained that the two are undertaken in accordance with the Statistics Law (2017), although their methods of collecting information are different.
The business surveys are handled through paper forms either mailed or hand-delivered to the entities that need to complete them. The survey on the labour force targets 1,500 randomly selected households to participate in this exercise through face-to-face interviews conducted by ESO-trained enumerators filling in electronic questionnaires.
To ensure there is no confusion about the requirement for participating in the Labour Force Survey, the official explained that the census takers carry a copy of the law and during the introductory part of the interviews they “state categorically that the survey is mandatory”.
There is no power of entry attached to this. Should you wish to say no comment for all questions …that is an acceptable answer for all.
Should this occur on more than one occasion, ie repeated calls …as it is a government controlled apparatus there may be questions arise for potential breaches under ECHR right to family and private life.
There are things that one could consider mandatory, that there are consequences if not fulfilled.
A couple of years ago i heard someone on the radio from the ESO talking about the mandatory survey when a caller asked… “But what if I don’t do it?”
There is no answer. Until such time that they let you know the consequences of choosing not to provide the information, it certainly is not mandatory.
On the Brac the problem is that the people doing the survey are not from the Statistics Office, they are civil servants living on the Brac who do it for extra money. Whatever answers you give will be all over District Admin by the next day.
How they would ever get over the gates and bypass the dogs is beyond me.
It might be the law to have to answer the surveys but i,believe the right to remain silent is above that law what happens if you take part in the survey but refuse to,answer any questions. if i answer i refuse to answer that question i,have still taken part in the survey have i not?
Last time, I was extra nice to the person because I know how
sh!tty people can be. They’re just trying to do a job.
Now, those ‘visitors’ that interrupt my Sunday morning breakfast are a different story. I merely do not answer the door. However, they have finally stopped coming by after I made a friend answer the door in his skivvy’s.
Go commando. Much more fun!
Exactly right. I am not above using nudity as a weapon. 😀
That said, I am always courteous to the survey folk. There are just certain questions that I refuse to answer. Questions that are my business alone.
Randomly selected households my eye! I have had to do this for the last 3 years and my mother has them turn up every year.
They can interview me in the nude. I do not wear any clothes in the privacy of my home, and those entering should be prepared for that.
Answering the door is not mandatory