A survey conducted by Health Protection Agency (HPA) and Maldives National University (MNU) has revealed majority of the Maldivians have been financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The survey, titled Socio-Economic Aspects of COVID-19, was partaken by 2,871 people. Results of the first round of the survey have been published in three different releases, with the latest release focusing on the effects on income and employment.
The survey indicated 65% of the participants faced severe difficulties in managing their expenses due to COVID-19, while 23% of the participants were moderately affected. 44% of the participants did not work during the lockdown imposed in the Greater Male' Region due to COVID-19, while 37% worked from home. 8% of the participants attended work 2-3 days a week, while 11% attended work every day during the lockdown.
The survey also revealed 71% of the participants were employed when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, while 16% were earning an income through private businesses and 6% were earning through rent, pension or other means. 7% of the participants were reported to have no mode of income even before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The survey revealed 1 out of every 10 person who was employed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic did not generate any income after that. 1 out of every 10 employed individuals also face the risk of losing their jobs within a month, while 3 out of every 10 had their wages cut due to COVID-19.
The survey also revealed how private businesses were affected by COVID-19. As such, the survey revealed 5 out of every 10 individuals earning through private businesses had their income severely reduced due to the pandemic, while 4 out of every 10 did not generate any income at all. Only 1 out of every 10 individuals with private businesses were reported to be unaffected by COVID-19.
The survey conducted by HPA and MNU is sanctioned by the National Council on Health Research. The first release of results from the first round of the survey focused on the level of awareness on COVID-19, while the second release focused on concerns of different age groups of the population amid the pandemic, including domestic violence and psychological distress.