BERLIN – Mr. Tien Nguyen is not just another entrepreneur; he’s a beacon of hope for many young Vietnamese aspiring to migrate to Germany for vocational training. As a second-generation Vietnamese-German, he is acutely aware of the challenges these young people face, including the high costs incurred during their journey and the increasing prevalence of exploitation by unscrupulous brokers.
In 2024, a remarkable statistic emerged: 7,100 Vietnamese citizens signed new vocational contracts in Germany, making them the largest group of foreign apprentices in the country. This marks a significant surge—up 61% from the previous year’s 4,400 apprentices, following the approval of Germany’s Skilled Immigration Act in June 2019—a legislative change meant to attract skilled workers to one of the world’s leading economies.
This influx is expected to continue, particularly with new amendments to the immigration law in 2023 facilitating access for non-EU workers, coupled with a bilateral deal in 2024 aimed at addressing Germany’s labor shortages. However, the dark side of this opportunity looms large: many young Vietnamese are falling prey to dishonest brokers who inflate service fees, charging upwards of €20,000 (about S$30,200) for pathways that should be accessible through authorized channels.
Mr. Nguyen and labor advocates are sounding the alarm. “The more we researched, the more we realized the student training placement industry is riddled with false advertising and financial exploitation,” he stated. His company, Alma Recruiting, aims to change this narrative by connecting young Vietnamese directly to educational and vocational opportunities, cutting out the middlemen who take advantage of their dreams.
A contributing factor to the exploitation is social media influencers who glamorize life in Germany, leading many young people to believe that they can afford the hefty fees brokers demand. The glossy portrayal often masks the difficult realities of integrating into a new culture and finding affordable housing—a challenge that is particularly stark in major German cities. This generates unrealistic salary expectations, further deceiving vulnerable youth eager for a brighter future.
Demographically, Vietnamese youth in their late teens and early 20s are the most susceptible to these misleading narratives. Typically fresh out of high school, many lack travel experience and vocational skills, but they possess a fervent desire to gain international exposure while honing their craftsmanship. They often resign themselves to borrowing large sums upfront, believing that paying off debt over one or two years is manageable—a dangerous assumption given the financial realities they face in Germany.
Coming from a nation where the GDP per capita barely tops US$4,000 (S$5,142) in 2024, many migrants find themselves in dire financial straits, struggling to repay broker fees that extend far beyond their initial expectations. Adding to this dilemma are cases where brokers push clients into shadow lending schemes that trap them in high-interest loans. Given that starting salaries for vocational trainees in Germany rarely exceed €1,200 a month, many find themselves drowning in debt before they even begin their careers.
“As things stand, recruitment processes are poorly regulated both in Vietnam and Germany,” pointed out Ms. Mimi Vu, co-founder of the Vietnam International Safe Labour Alliance (VISLA). “While legal avenues do exist, many young people think they must pay exorbitant broker fees, which further exacerbates the problem of exploitation.” This chaotic environment makes it all too easy for young migrants to get lost in the system.
Germany, however, is broadening its scope beyond vocational training. There are specialized tracks for trained nurses and skilled professionals in hospitality—fields that remain in dire need of manpower. Through collaborative agreements like the Berlin-Hanoi labor deal set for 2024, both governments are keen on addressing the exploitation risks they have acknowledged exist within this rapidly evolving migration landscape.
Vietnam sees labor exports as a vital avenue for eradicating poverty and promoting sustainable economic growth. In fact, the country ranked as the 12th largest recipient of remittances among low- and middle-income nations globally in 2024, garnering US$14.7 billion, which makes up over 3% of its GDP. Despite this potential, Vietnam’s economic model has been historically tethered to low labor costs, thereby attracting foreign investment while leaving factory workers earning less than their peers in other Asian nations such as China, a challenge that requires urgent reevaluation.
The demographic reality adds another layer of urgency: over half of Vietnam’s population of 101 million is of working age, a demographic window that will likely narrow by the 2030s. Yet the same young population faces a mismatch between their skills and the demands of the job market, which hampers productivity growth as much as industrial advancement. As the youth unemployment rate climbs—jumping from 8.2% to 9% within a single quarter in 2025—the allure of jobs overseas remains potent.
However appealing the migration pathways to Germany may seem, they often harbor unsustainable realities. While many young Vietnamese begin their journeys legally within the systems set up for them, there are alarming instances where these individuals, disillusioned by their circumstances, abandon their intended vocational paths and seek work in the informal economy—whether in beauty salons or even more dangerous avenues like prostitution, leading to concerns about their safety and security.
With these issues in mind, Mr. Nguyen and his partners—Son Le Duc, Anh Nguyen, and Maddin Truong—established Alma Recruiting in late 2024. They are not just looking to fill a market gap but are committed to paving a sustainable future for young Vietnamese seeking opportunities abroad. “Our value proposition starts from identifying the real issues,” says Nguyen. “Students haven’t been properly guided, leading them into Germany with false expectations.”
Alma strives to empower these young migrants by supporting them through technologies that eliminate unnecessary intermediaries. With a focus on providing comprehensive pre-departure and post-arrival integration assistance, the company also facilitates the conversion of professional accreditation, easing the transition to skilled work.
Alma is paving the way for a new generation of Vietnamese migrants to thrive in Germany. Take, for example, Ms. Nguyen Minh Khue, who moved from Hanoi to pursue vocational training as a dental assistant in the Stuttgart area. After receiving personalized support from Alma, she expressed her gratitude: “They helped me find a suitable apartment with trustworthy housemates and go through the essential steps to ensure my language qualifications are valid.”
At just 20, she is embracing her newfound independence, even if it comes with moments of loneliness. “I have friends from various backgrounds, including Ukrainians and Turks, and that exchange enriches my experience here,” she reflected.
Community building is integral to Alma’s mission. They pair inexperienced migrants with seniors who have successfully navigated similar pathways. That nurturing environment helps new arrivals adjust to life in Germany, making the cultural transition smoother.
For Mr. Nguyen and his colleagues, the mission is rooted in personal history. The first Vietnamese labor migrants arrived in East Germany as early as the 1950s, and the turmoil of the Vietnam War led to a new wave of migration in the late 1970s. Fast forward to 2024, and there are approximately 226,000 people of Vietnamese descent in Germany, with around 141,000 being first-generation migrants. Their contributions have been evident, especially in essential public services.
Nevertheless, a complex web of segregation exists. Many Vietnamese immigrants remain in isolated communities, fostering a gap in understanding and mutual contact with the broader German society. Such isolation can lead to young individuals feeling lost when facing challenges like financial pressures or legal issues, making them susceptible to exploitation.
In locales like the Dong Xuan Centre, often dubbed “Little Hanoi,” one can find a vibrant marketplace reflective of the Vietnamese diaspora. Yet, even within these thriving hubs, some merchants engage in dubious practices, charging inflated prices to new migrants for basic necessities, which exacerbates their vulnerability. Police raids for human trafficking in the area highlight the darker aspects of this community.
Through initiatives like Alma, Mr. Nguyen and his co-founders aim to tackle these systemic issues head-on. They seek to empower young migrants with the knowledge and resources to navigate their journey successfully. “Our parents focused on crafting a better future for us, and we believe we can continue that legacy,” Mr. Nguyen remarks confidently. “The next generation has the potential to make a lasting impact unless they fall victim to the same pitfalls we’ve seen in the past.”