Key facts
As at the end of November 2016, around 5,850 people were employed at the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), of whom over 20% are relocatable. These are generally obliged to change job and location every four years. This means that, every year, it is necessary to appoint new people to around 300 posts, representing a total average wage bill of CHF 42 million. These transfers cost the FDFA around CHF 6 million each year. The FDFA Personnel Division in the Directorate for Resources (DR) is responsible for this process.