UK diplomats no longer get hardship bonus for being posted to Buenos Aires
UK diplomats posted to Buenos Aires and five other locations will no longer receive hardship payments after the Foreign Office revised its list of difficult overseas postings. The change has reignited political debate over whether such allowances are justified, particularly where qualifying locations are also popular tourist destinations.
The scheme has operated for around 30 years and compensates staff for risks and pressures including security, health, isolation, climate and disaster exposure; 144 locations still qualify. Removed locations include Santiago, Panama City, Pyongyang, Bamako and Sarajevo, while cities such as Bangkok, Cape Town, Dubai and Bali remain covered; in 2009, the Buenos Aires couple allowance was £1,517 and Santiago’s was £777.
- Buenos Aires no longer qualifies for UK diplomatic hardship payments.
- The scheme still covers 144 overseas locations.
- Conservatives criticised allowances for tourist-friendly destinations.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Removing the hardship bonus could be justified if Buenos Aires no longer meets consistent, evidence-based criteria for an unusually difficult or dangerous posting. Public money should be directed towards locations where staff face the greatest demonstrable hardship, while normal overseas costs can be covered through transparent allowances available to all relevant postings. A regularly updated system also avoids treating past reputations as permanent entitlements.
The case against
Retaining the bonus could be justified if diplomats in Buenos Aires still face materially higher living, security, economic or practical pressures than colleagues in comparable posts. Such payments are not simply rewards but can help ensure that the Foreign Office attracts and retains capable staff for assignments that impose real burdens on them and their families. Removing support too soon may undervalue those conditions and create a misleading impression that the posting is straightforward.