Periodic Labour Force Survey to expand coverage to capture unpaid household, volunteers from January 2027

The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) will broaden its scope to encompass unpaid household tasks, volunteer work, and digital platform employment, beginning in January 2027, according to the statistics ministry. This expansion is part of a larger initiative to enhance labour market data collection. New questions will be incorporated to measure own-use production of goods, unpaid household and caregiving activities, volunteer work, and unpaid trainee work.

These questions will be posed during the initial visit, covering individuals aged 15 and above in both rural and urban settings, allowing for annual reporting on these activities. The revised survey aims to provide a more thorough evaluation of labor beyond traditional employment, enhance data collection on unpaid and non-market activities, and offer a more comprehensive understanding of individuals' contributions to household and community welfare.

Additionally, a binary question will be added to identify households where members have participated in digital platform work during the reference period. This question will be asked in both rural and urban households to select households for a new sub-sample based on digital platform workers. The concept note highlights that a significant number of women dedicate considerable time to unpaid household and caregiving activities such as cooking, cleaning, childcare, and care for the elderly.