Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) was commissioned by the South African Department of Labour (DoL) to conduct the first Survey of Activities of Young People in 1999. Stats SA was responsible for data collection and processing, while the analysis and report writing was the responsibility of DoL. In thethird quarter of 2010 (Q3:2010) Stats SA conducted the second Survey of Activities of Young People (SAYP) as a supplement to the Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS). However
differences in methodologies followed in the two surveys make comparisons difficult. SAYP is a household-based sample survey that collects data on the activities of children aged 7 to 17 years who live in South Africa. This information is gathered from respondents who are members of households living in dwellings that have been selected to take part in the QLFS and have children aged 7–17 years. The survey covers market production activities, production for own final consumption, household chores as well as activities that children engaged in at school. The reference period for some activities is the week preceding the survey interview and for others it is the past twelve months.
The specific objectives of SAYP are:
• To understand the extent of children’s involvement in economic activities;
• To provide users with statistics on the number of working children;
• To supply information for the formulation of informed policy to combat child labour within the country; and
• To monitor the Child Labour Action Plan of the Department of Labour based on the findings.