Monitoring the Socio-Economic Effects of COVID-19 on Mauritian Households – December 2020

 

Following lockdown measures introduced by the Government on 20 March 2020, the face-to-face data collection for the Continuous Multi-Purpose Household Survey (CMPHS) had to be stopped and replaced by a telephone survey.  The most important data items of the normal CMPHS and some additional information that would allow an impact analysis of the socio-economic effects of COVID-19 on the lives of Mauritian households are being collected through the telephone survey.
Highlights – December 2020
Total employment increased from 510,200 in October 2020 to 523,700 in December 2020, that is, an increase of 13,500.
The number of unemployed increased by 300 from 60,700 in October to 61,000 in December.
The unemployment rate (based on a labor force comprising individuals aged 16-64 years and not in full time education) is estimated at 10.4 percent in December compared to 10.6 percent in October.
In December, the number of inactives was estimated to be 188,000 compared to 202,000 in October; a decrease of 14,000.
Compared to income prior to lockdown of 20 March 2020, around 69 percent of self-employed/employers reported a decline in their business income in December 2020. Among employees, around 20 percent reported a decrease in income in December 2020. 
About 76 percent of households reported having difficulty to meet their household expenses with their current monthly income in December 2020; slightly higher than in October (75 percent). 
In December 2020, about 29 percent of households had difficulty in the payment of their electricity bills on time due to financial constraints compared to 33 percent in October.
Households who had problems to pay their water bills was estimated at 20 percent in December compared to 23 percent in October.
Around 29 percent of households surveyed in December and 30 percent of those surveyed in October reported a reduction in their income prior to the pandemic.
The households who have been affected by a shock as a consequence of the pandemic rose from 40 percent in October to 46 percent in December. The shocks more commonly reported were reduction in salary/income from business and job loss.​

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31 March 2021