Overview
- Investigative reports say about one-third of roughly 700 Vietnamese trainees at Berlin’s Brillat-Savarin vocational school no longer attend classes.
- Germany counts around 16,000 Vietnamese apprentices nationwide, nearly 2,000 in Berlin, with about 4,000 arriving in 2024.
- The Federal Criminal Police Office says it has received isolated indications of potential exploitation and has not provided details on any ongoing cases.
- Private agencies in Vietnam reportedly charge up to €20,000 for contracts, language tests and visas, leaving recruits heavily indebted and vulnerable.
- Many arrivals hold B1 certificates yet speak little German, prompting unions and employer groups to push for centralized placement via the Federal Employment Agency and stricter vetting of providers.