STATISTICAL REGULATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF MALDIVES
(UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION)
INTRODUCTION
Scope:This Regulation defines and regulates all activities related to collection, compilation, publication and utilisation of statistical data. The regulation is formulated and shall be executed by the Ministry of Planning and National Development. In the implementation of this regulation, the technical assistance and support required shall be provided by the Ministry of Planning and National Development.
Purpose: The purpose of this regulation is to standardise the data collection, compilation, publication and utilisation of statistical data in the Maldives. In addition, this regulation will ensure the confidentiality of information, minimise respondent burden and avoid overlap of data collection operations.
THE REGULATION
Collection of statistical data
1. Statistical information shall be collected in the Maldives, through censuses, surveys and other means determined by the Ministry of Planning and National Development.
2. Any statistical data collection activity permitted under this regulation shall be carried out in accordance with the rules stated in Annex 1 of this regulation.
3. Collection of statistical data shall be carried out in a manner that minimises respondent burden.
Permission for collection of statistical data
4. Censuses and surveys, carried out for obtaining designated statistics included in the list of national statistical indicators shall be undertaken by the Ministry of Planning and National Development or any institution that is designated by the Ministry of Planning and National Development.
5. Further to clause 4 of this regulation, quantitative surveys, qualitative surveys, and opinion polls shall be carried out with permission from the Ministry of Planning and National Development. If the surveys required to be undertaken is to be carried out in the Atolls and/or Male’, advice shall be obtained from the Ministry of Atolls Administration and /or Ministry of Home Affairs and Environment prior to application for approval of survey. In addition, if the survey is related to any specific field, advice shall be obtained from the concerned government authority. If the survey requires a pre-test, permission shall be obtained from the Ministry of Planning and National Development.
6. Collection of statistical data stated in clause 4 and 5 of this regulation does not include administrative data collection, qualitative surveys that are conducted in relation to research studies and surveys conducted during training.
7. All parties requiring permission in compliance with clause 5 of this regulation shall submit the completed survey or pre-test approval form with the documents stated therein to the Ministry of Planning and National Development.
8. Further to clause 5 of this regulation, surveys shall be carried out in accordance with the date and information in the documents approved by the Ministry of Planning and National Development. Any changes shall be submitted to the Ministry of Planning and National Development in writing for permission.
9. All persons engaged in data collection shall hold an official document from the concerned government authority, authorising them to undertake the data collection operation. Such a document shall be presented to the respondent at the time of data collection, if required.
Compilation and use of statistical data
10. The information obtained from the data collection operation requires a standardised coding system or classification. All such coding shall be carried out using standard international classifications or any such classification developed in compliance with international or national standards. Newly developed coding systems or classifications requires to be acceptable to the Ministry of Planning and National Development.
11. The information obtained in accordance with this regulation shall be used mainly to fulfill the stated objectives. Provision for further research shall be allowed on the data collected.
12. The information identified as designated statistics shall only be published with the permission from the Ministry of Planning and National Development.
Responsibilities of the general public
17. Any person, who is permitted under this regulation to conduct a statistical data collection operation for official purposes of the government, shall be provided with true information, within a given time as may be required.
18. Any party, permitted by the Ministry of Planning and National Development for data collection in relation to national development shall be provided with the required information.
19. Any party, permitted by the Ministry of Planning and National Development for data collection in relation to research and/or training shall be provided with the required information.
20. The work of any person permitted to carry out a data collection operation under this regulation shall not be hindered or obstructed.
21. The respondent must ask for evidence of permission accorded under this regulation before giving information. The information provided to persons who do not possess any evidence of such a permit shall not be protected under this regulation.
Offences
22. The Ministry of Planning and National Development has the discretionary power to take the following actions against any person who contravenes this regulation.
A) Intervene in any activity that violates this regulation and desist the operation, until the action is rectified.
B) Revoke the permit for data collection and publication for a definite period. The period will be determined by the Ministry of Planning and National Development.
C) Levy a fine between Rf. 100/- (Rufiyaa One Hundred) to Rf. 1000/- (Rufiyaa One Thousand), depending on the seriousness of the action.
D) File the case in a court of law.
Meaning of terms in the regulation
2.1 In this regulation,
a) Statistics means any information presented in numerical form.
B) A Classification/coding system is an established system of codes that are used to specify collected information into categories.
C) Census is a statistical data collection operation carried out as a complete enumeration, within a specified period of time.
D) A survey is a data collection operation carried out using a representative sample of the population.
E) Administrative data is defined, as statistical data required for monitoring purposes and/or required by a government regulation or an existing law.
F) Designated statistics is referred to statistical data and statistical indicators identified and published by the Ministry of Planning and National Development.
G) Opinion poll is referred to an operation carried out for collection of ideas through interviews.
H) Quantitative Survey is referred to an operation carried out for collection of numerical information in a survey.
i) Qualitative Survey is referred to an operation carried out for collection of qualitative information.
ANNEX 1
RULES FOR COLLECTION OF STATISTICAL DATA IN THE MALIDVES
Census procedure
1. Census is a statistical data collection operation carried out as a complete enumeration and gathering of related statistics. A census commonly refers to the complete enumeration of the local population at a given time. However, in order to distinguish a population census from other censuses, it is necessary to specify in detail the type of census.
2. Population and housing census of the Maldives is conducted in accordance with the internationally recommended principles of census taking. One such principle refers to defacto enumeration. The other principle is dejure enumeration.
3. All other censuses shall be carried out under generally established international principles.
4. Census information shall be collected using a structured questionnaire specifically designed for that census.
5. Census information shall be collected in the Maldives, either in Dhivehi or the English language.
Survey procedure
6. A survey is a data collection operation carried out using a representative sample of the population.
7. A survey shall be conducted through direct or telephone interviews with the respondent or through mail-out questionnaires or by observation.
8. Generally information on a survey shall be in Dhivehi or the English language. However, a survey may be conducted in any other language with the approval of the Ministry of Planning and National Development.
9. A public announcement of the survey should be made 1 (one) week prior to the commencement of the survey.
Permission to conduct surveys
10. The authorisation to conduct surveys shall be given by the Ministry of Planning and National Development. The request for approval shall be submitted using the survey or pre-test approval form issued by the Ministry of Planning and National Development.
11. A full application for approval must be submitted to the Ministry of Planning and National Development, 5 (five) weeks prior to the commencement of the survey.
12. Permission shall be given within 1 (one) week of the submission of the completed survey or pre-test approval form.
13. Permission shall be given in accordance with clauses 6 and 7 of the Statistical Regulation of the Republic of Maldives.