The police will escort census takers to "problematic addresses".
One of the police's tasks during the upcoming census is to ensure the safety of census takers. "For this purpose, law enforcement officers will accompany them when visiting 'problematic addresses.' This refers to apartments and houses where citizens leading an antisocial lifestyle, prone to committing crimes, abusing alcohol, and so on, reside," the Ministry of Internal Affairs informed.
On the eve of the census, the police ask citizens not to let census takers into their homes if they do not have all the necessary attributes (a tablet and a bag with a special logo) and documents (an ID and a passport) with them, to avoid possible fraud. In case of doubt, you can call the single number 8-801-100-31-31 (the call is free from any phone), provide the census taker's details, and make sure that this person is authorized to conduct the survey.
As reported, from October 4 to 30, a population census will be held in the country under the slogan "A look at the present - a step into the future." Respondents will be asked to answer 49 questions, including about basic demographic and national-ethnic characteristics, migration activity, education, sources of livelihood, employment, number of children, housing conditions, and economic activity.
It will be possible to be counted in one of three ways: to independently and at a convenient time fill out questionnaires online, at stationary sites, or at home during an oral interview with a census taker. Information about the addresses of stationary sites will be available on the Belstat website. Online census will be a convenient way for Belarusians who are temporarily abroad (if a person lives outside the country for less than a year, they are obliged to be counted, but adult relatives can also do it for them).
Collectively, all new approaches to conducting the census will help reduce the number of census staff by three times, almost as much reduce the time to fill out the census form. And, of course, improve the quality of procedures. A special call center will also help during the census, which can be contacted from October 1 with any questions on the topic. The census promotional website is already operating at www.perepis.bel and www.census.by, where you can familiarize yourself with the data of the 2009 campaign and find useful information and tips about the upcoming event.
Belstat will provide the first information on the population size in February 2020. Detailed information on socio-demographic characteristics, including actual unemployment, will be provided in July 2020, and information on the most complex part of the questionnaire - the population's activities in the agricultural sector - in July 2021.