8-4-2024 (JAKARTA) What began as a promising opportunity for an overseas internship turned into a nightmare for Ramayana Monica, a 22-year-old undergraduate, and nearly 1,900 Indonesian students like her. Promised lucrative jobs and university credits in Germany, they found themselves exploited and deceived.
During her three-month stint in late 2023, Monica endured grueling manual labour, far removed from the anticipated internship experience. From farm work to warehouse duties, she was subjected to tasks unrelated to her studies. “I felt fatigued and starved,” Monica lamented, revealing the harsh reality behind the false promises.
The internship scheme, purportedly part of Germany’s official working holiday programme known as ferienjob, turned out to be a scam. Indonesian authorities are now probing allegations of human trafficking, triggered by distress calls from stranded students in May 2023. Investigations have implicated university officials and recruitment agencies, shedding light on a web of exploitation and deceit.
Monica’s story is emblematic of the students’ plight, who were enticed by the prospect of financial gain and career advancement. Despite facing myriad challenges – from contractual disputes to financial burdens – many felt compelled to persevere, driven by mounting debts and coercive tactics from agencies.
For Monica, the ordeal didn’t end upon her return to Jakarta. Burdened by debts and disillusioned by the false promises, she is determined to seek justice. Her courage echoes the sentiments of countless others grappling with the aftermath of this elaborate deception.
