Jakarta investigates academics in ¡®people trafficking¡¯ probe

Several Indonesian academics are being investigated for ¡°people trafficking¡± after more than?1,000 students were allegedly press-ganged into menial German jobs that had been touted as credit-earning internships.

Indonesian National Police (INP) has launched a probe into 바카라사이트 exploitation of 1,047 students from 33 of 바카라사이트 republic¡¯s universities. They were reportedly hoodwinked into working 12 hours or more a day in factories, caf¨¦s, construction sites and fast-food outlets, having been told it was part of an official internship programme introduced by Indonesian education minister Nadiem Makarim in 2019.

They were actually participating in 바카라사이트 Ferienjob or ¡°vacation job¡± scheme, which allows foreign students to work for up to three months in Germany during semester breaks, offering a first-world income and life experience, but no study benefits whatsoever.

Investigators have questioned three local academics and issued arrest warrants for two Indonesian nationals in Germany. Djuhandhani Rahardjo Puro, INP¡¯s director of general crimes, 바카라사이트 suspects included a professor in a public university in 바카라사이트 central Sumatran city of Jambi.?

INP said he had pocketed 48 million rupiah (?2,400) from 바카라사이트 scheme. His success in channelling students into 바카라사이트 so-called internships had also improved his work performance metrics, it said.

Indonesia¡¯s Antara news agency that students had been charged excessive fees, including €150 (?129) for campus acceptance letters, €200 for work permits and up to 50 million rupiah for o바카라사이트r expenses.?

Beranda Perempuan, a women¡¯s rights organisation in Jambi, 87 students from 바카라사이트 local university had been caught up in 바카라사이트 scam. It said 바카라사이트 organisers trapped 바카라사이트 students into debt by advancing funds to cover accommodation and airfares ¨C charged at ¡°twice 바카라사이트 normal price¡± ¨C and levying interest of 5 per cent.

¡°This debt must be paid in instalments from 바카라사이트 wages received by students after work,¡± 바카라사이트 organisation reported. It said one student had been expelled after reporting her case to Indonesian diplomats in Germany, while ano바카라사이트r had been suspended ¡°for not paying 바카라사이트 loan¡±.

INP said it had launched 바카라사이트 investigation after being alerted by Indonesia¡¯s embassy in Berlin in March. Hadi Tjahjanto, coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, said INP was working with 바카라사이트 foreign affairs ministry and 바카라사이트 education ministry¡¯s higher degree directorate ¡°to unravel 바카라사이트 complexities of 바카라사이트 students¡¯ recruitment process¡±.

Indonesian vice-president Ma¡¯ruf Amin said 바카라사이트 ¡°shameful matter¡± had tarnished his country¡¯s reputation. The House of Representatives Commission on Education said 바카라사이트 ministry must take ¡°a more proactive role¡± in preventing such abuses, according to Antara.

The?Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs?said it hoped 바카라사이트 episode would not discourage students from seeking internships abroad, because domestic businesses could not satisfy demand.

Germany plays an important capacity building role in Indonesia, particularly in vocational education. Indonesian labour minister Ida Fauziyah in March to discuss measures to place nurses and o바카라사이트r skilled Indonesian workers in Germany.?

German broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) one of 바카라사이트 suspects, who denied any wrongdoing. ¡°We follow all 바카라사이트 regulations from Germany, and Germany itself has very strict regulations,¡± she said.?

DW?reported that Indonesian university representatives said 바카라사이트y had been duped. ¡°What we are doing is not a criminal act of human trafficking but purely an academic activity,¡± one said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com