PSA Aklan launches first-ever survey on informal workers

KALIBO, Aklan — The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Aklan is conducting a first-ever survey on informal sector workers in the province.

The survey is a rider to the April 2026 Labor Force Survey (LFS) and covers selected barangays and identified sample households.

It aims to quantify the number of informal workers and measure their contribution to the country’s economic development.

The informal sector covers economic activities performed by persons producing goods or providing services for pay or profit that are not covered by commercial laws, income taxation, labor legislation, or social security regulations.

These units typically operate at a low level of organization, with little or no distinction between labor and capital as factors of production. Labor relations, where they exist, are often based on casual employment, kinship, or personal and social relations.

Workers in this sector are economically vulnerable, lack job security, and often have no access to social protection such as pensions, insurance, or paid leave.

According to Engr. Antonet Catubuan, the survey also aims to generate data for government-targeted interventions to improve working conditions, reduce poverty, and help policymakers design programs that address the challenges of informality.

“By quantifying their number and identifying their economic characteristics, the government can develop programs and policies aligned with their needs, enabling them to enhance their welfare and general well-being,” Engr. Catubuan said.

She added that statistics on informal workers are crucial in tracking progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly on the proportion of informal employment in total employment, disaggregated by sector and sex.

Among the data to be gathered, aside from demographic information, is the type of institution where respondents are working.

For paid workers, this includes whether there is a written contract or oral agreement with their employer; whether the establishment is registered with the National Business Register such as the Department of Trade and Industry, the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the Cooperative Development Authority; the types of accounts or records maintained; whether the employer contributes to the Social Security System or Government Service Insurance System; and whether workers receive paid annual and sick leave.

For the self-employed or those in own-account businesses, data will include the main source of income, whether customers are obtained through another company, intermediary, platform, or individual, and the degree of control over their work.

A total of 384 households have been sampled across 28 enumeration areas and will be visited by eight hired statistical researchers.

All data collected will be treated with strict confidentiality and will not be used for legal or taxation purposes, as provided by law.

PSA Aklan urged all selected households to provide truthful responses to ensure the statistics generated are reliable, accurate, and reflective of the current condition of the informal sector.