Diego Garcia Facts

The common language spoken on Diego Garcia is English although our Filipino and Mauritian
employees also speak their primary languages of Tagalog and French, respectively.

Currency exchange on Diego Garcia is in the US Dollar.

Internet is available on the island and commercial telephone is also available using the Cable &
Wireless telephone service.

The cost of living in Diego Garcia can be practically zero if so desired.

Expatriate and qualifying Third Country National (TCN) DG21 employees will be assigned either Bachelor Officer or Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BOQ or BEQ respectively), which is air-conditioned and furnished. The BQs are equipped with laundry facilities for employee’s own personal use although certain items of clothing (shirts, trousers, towels etc.) can be washed free of charge at the island laundry.

Three meals per day are provided in the Combined Dining Facility at no cost and there are a number of clubs/restaurants available to employees where meals can be purchased at a reasonable price. Barber and tailor services are also provided at no cost.

Personal items such as soap, washing powder, and toothpaste, as well as food, beverages, DVD’s, electronic equipment and a limited selection of clothing can be purchased at the ships store.

The company will also reimburse employees for shipment of personal items to Diego Garcia up to a maximum of $200 and where necessary a vehicle will be provided although fuel for leisure pursuits will be paid for by the employee.

DG21 employees qualify for tax relief commensurate with pertaining tax laws at the time of hire. Currently, 330 days absence from the United States is considered a tax-free assignment within the tax statutes for US employees. For UK employees it is also a tax-free environment although the company advises all prospective employees to seek advice from a tax professional, as tax is a personal and not a company responsibility. The company has to declare all taxable earnings to the proper authorities in compliance with the pertaining laws.

There is a limited medical and dental facility on Diego Garcia and all prospective employees are advised to have a medical plan in place. For those personnel eligible for Tricare benefits, treatment is available from the Navy Medical Center on a space available basis, and in addition DG21 has its own clinic and offers a subsidized medical insurance plan. The insurance plan is provided by CIGNA and the company contributes 62% of the cost. Currently, the employee’s contribution is $107 per month. Treatment at the DG21 clinic is free of charge and two doctors staff the clinic with the help of three nurses, two medical technicians and one dentist who provide basic care, although long-term prescriptive drugs are at the employee’s expense. In the case of medical evacuation the designated evacuation point is Paya Lebar Airport in Singapore and the medical evacuation cost is borne by the company. DG 21 uses the Mount Elisabeth
Singapore Air Ambulance service that can take up to 24 hours to arrive on Diego Garcia with the same return time to Singapore. Hospitalization in Singapore is at the employee’s expense.

It is vitally important that all prospective employees undergo a full medical and dental examination before coming to Diego Garcia and this will be at the employee’s expense.

DG21 employees qualify for 10 paid holidays per year and 15 paid vacation days building up to 21 days after one year. The company offers three paid sick days per year that can be converted to cash or paid vacation if not used.

After six months of
employment employees qualify for R+R that comes out of accrued vacation or can be taken as leave without pay. Usually R+R is taken using one of the DG21 charted 340 Airbus flights that will disembark passengers in Singapore and Manila and is scheduled every three months. Return to Diego Garcia is from Paya Lebar Airport via an AMC military flight.

Contracts of employment are for one year renewable and the working week is 48 hours.