Fake internships: Indonesian university students exploited in Germany
Scandal over an Indonesian agency's programme promoted among hundreds of young people. The denunciation was triggered after some found themselves working 12 hours a day for EUR 700, without having their internship recognised once they returned to Indonesia. Associations denounce complicity in universities.
Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Dozens of Indonesian students have been trapped in illegal human trafficking under the guise of an internship program in Germany. Coming from at least 33 Indonesian campuses they were hired as laborers in Europe with exorbitant workloads.
The case emerged in Indonesian media following a complaint lodged by four students at the Indonesian Embassy in Berlin. The boys are part of a group of at least 1,047 other Indonesian students who were already in Germany, but who were forced to work illegally as part of the so-called Ferienjob internship program, promoted by Indonesian companies known as PT CVGEN and PT SHB . Indonesian police said they had arrested five suspects, two of whom are still in Germany.
One student, identified with the pseudonym Nita who was admitted to the Ferienjob internship program last October, said she had to pay at least 550 euros in registration fee and other costs. But as soon as she arrived in Germany, she was forced to go to different factories to work.
During a night visit they were offered a contractual agreement drawn up exclusively in German. “We were forcefully asked to work at least 12-14 hours a day,” explains another student, for a fee of only 700 euros. Furthermore, once they returned home they still had to regularly take mid- and end-of-course tests, contrary to what was promised with the internship program.
The Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture said that the "Ferienjob" internship is not part of the "Merdeka Curriculum", officially linked to the Ministry's program. “We strongly support law enforcement to bring suspects to justice,” said ministry spokesperson Anang Ristanto.
In a statement, the human rights groups Beranda Perempuan and Beranda Migran reveal that 87 students come from Jambi province on the island of Sumatra. The students were interested in this internship program because one of their teachers was known as a partner of the agency and Jambi University has established a partnership for 10 years.
“The financial trap was practiced by increasing the prices of airline tickets and other things, including high interest on loans,” the two groups say. “The responsibility of universities is now seriously at risk and they must stop the internship programme,” they conclude, adding that students' rights to continue their studies should also be guaranteed.
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16/01/2023 13:47
11/08/2017 20:05
