More and more young Indians are coming to Germany to study and build a better future. However, many of them, like Indian student Ravi, find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle of high tuition fees and precarious jobs. According to Die Zeit, many students have to take out loans to cover the high costs of private universities.
The working conditions are often illegal and exploitative. Students find themselves working in delivery services, where they frequently endure poor conditions. They do not receive minimum wage and often rely on dubious subcontractors. Those who complain risk losing their jobs.
The living situation for many students is equally precarious. They often live in overcrowded and run-down rooms, paying high rents for little space and hardly any privacy. Despite these harsh living conditions, many do not want to return to India, as they would be unable to repay their debts there.
A podcast by Hannah Grünewald and Anant Agarwala sheds light on the system of exploitation and highlights the injustices. The research reveals how this system operates and who profits from it.
