THE IMPACT OF LABOR MIGRATION ON EMBASSY TURNOVER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000945

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: APER ELAB SOCI AMGT TI
SUBJECT: THE IMPACT OF LABOR MIGRATION ON EMBASSY TURNOVER

REF: DUSHANBE 831

DUSHANBE 00000945 001.2 OF 002



1. (SBU) Summary: The high rate of emigration, especially of
those with marketable skills as reported reftel, results in a
very high level of staff turnover at EMBASSY Dushanbe. Though
for the purposes of setting salaries we look to local employers,
our real competitors are employers abroad, in Russia, Europe and
even the U.S. Our salaries are not at a level to induce people
to remain in Tajikistan given other factors that motivate people
to emigrate. Key sections, in GSO for example, are virtually
never fully staffed, and the HR section has a very high burden
of recruitment and hiring. We have to devote a larger than
normal portion of our resources to training. Over time we are
seeing a smaller pool of candidates apply for our jobs, and the
candidates have fewer qualifications. Managing the EMBASSY in
the face of this high turnover of local staff presents a serious
challenge. End Summary.




2. (SBU) With a labor migration rate of 30% or higher of its
working age population, Tajikistan is an extreme outlier.
Though reliable data is sketchy, what is available suggests that
the rate of emigration increases with the level of education and
marketable skills. This creates problems across all levels of
the economy in finding and keeping qualified staff. This does
not just affect domestic entities, but is a problem for the U.S.
Embassy, even though by most measures the EMBASSY is one of the
most attractive employers in the country. As is the practice
world wide, wages are set by surveying what other similar
employers offer in the country. A key problem is that we don't
compete solely or even mainly with other employers in
Tajikistan. We compete with employers in Russia, Europe, the
Middle East and even the U.S. The very highest salary available
to a local employee at grade FS-11 is $20,000. We don't
actually have employees paid at that level. The bulk of our key
skilled staff make in the $12-14,000 range annually. For people
with English language and other marketable skills it is almost
always possible to find employment outside the country that pays
better than the Embassy. This is true in other countries as
well, of course, but in Tajikistan emigration is the rule now,
rather than the exception.




3. (SBU) As a result the EMBASSY has experienced a continuous
high level of turnover that shows no sign of abating. The
largest group of employees in the embassy, and at the bottom of
the pay scale, is the local guard force (LGF). The LGF is
virtually never fully staffed and the EMBASSY maintains a
continuous cycle of recruitment, hiring and training, to keep
the local guard force operational. We also have serious
turnover in grades 6-8, which comprise most of our skilled
English speaking employees. In the last 12 months we have seen
27 employees depart, about 10% of local staff. Those departing
include program managers, telephone radio tech, voucher
examiner, accountant, cultural assistant, NIV assistant,
purchasing agent, supply supervisor, administrative assistants,
investigators, supervisory mechanics, etc. In the first quarter
of the calendar year the Management Office presented the front
Office with a list of 16 employees who had declared their
intention to depart the EMBASSY in the upcoming year. Their
intended destinations included the U.S., Russia, Turkey, Canada,
and sometimes Afghanistan, Iraq or Africa working as UN
employees. Two planned to remain in Tajikistan working for
other international organizations. Three got offers from
multinational companies. As noted reftel, it is not just higher
wages that push people to emigrate; many also want better
opportunities for their children. The wages we pay do not
overcome these factors pushing people to leave the country.




4. (SBU) The impact on the Mission is palpable. At any one time
several sections are understaffed, and remaining staff are
covering vacant positions as well as their own work. This
problem has been particularly acute for GSO. Each departure can
have a knock on effect if a replacement is hired from within, as
is often the case. Thus one person leaving can set off a chain
of two, three, four or more vacancies, advertising, interviews,
etc., as staff members move into new positions. The Human
Resources Office is running a constant a cycle of recruitment,
reviewing interviewing, and hiring. The RSO office has a heavy
burden of employment background investigations. U.S.
supervisors spend a lot of time interviewing job candidates.
Each section usually has new staff members still in the learning
curve, and post has to spend a larger than normal chunk of our
budget on training local staff, and on bringing in TDY staff to

DUSHANBE 00000945 002.2 OF 002


cover shortfalls. Managing the high turnover puts extra stress
on everyone's time, budget, and ability to accomplish their work.




5. (SBU) Improving employment conditions to reduce turnover of
local staff is a management priority for EMBASSY Dushanbe. A
more stable workforce would pay dividends by making it easier
for the Mission to achieve its goals and provide stronger
oversight of U.S. government assistance and resources.
QUAST