Jakarta, IO – Thousands of students from dozens of universities in Indonesia are suspected of having fallen victim to work exploitation using the internship mode in Germany pupolarly known as ferienjob (holiday job) from October to December 2023.
The police are currently investigating a number of parties related to the alleged criminal act of human trafficking (TPPO) under the guise of Kampus Merdeka program, per Kompas, Tue (26/3).
National Police spokesperson Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko revealed that four students who were doing the part-time job have made complaint to the Indonesian Embassy in Germany.
Following investigation, it was found that the program that involved 33 universities in Indonesia with a total of 1,047 students is not conducted according to proper procedure.
“The students feel that they are being exploited,” said Trunoyudo.
They were introduced to the program and asked for certain amount of money for their departure by a company said to be collaborating with the Kampus Merdeka program. The operator promises that the internship program in Germany can be converted into 20 credits at university.
Police said they have named five suspects in Germany, identified as ER aka EW, A aka AE, SS, AJ and MJ. Meanwhile, all the victims have returned to Indonesia. “The internship contract expired in December 2023,” said Trunoyudo.
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In response, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) said the TPPO modus operandi is already well known. Komnas HAM commissioner Anis Hidayah said the commission found that in the period from 2023 to February 2024.
Komnas HAM had received and processed 92 complaints in connection with human trafficking.
“Human trafficking is a serious problem in Indonesia and it poses threat to the society, especially women and children,” said Anis. (un)