BERLIN – Mr. Tien Nguyen is a man on a mission. The second-generation Vietnamese-German seeks to protect young Vietnamese migrants from being exploited as they pursue work opportunities in Europe’s largest economy.
The numbers tell a compelling story. In 2024, Germany saw the signing of 7,100 new vocational contracts with Vietnamese citizens, marking them as the largest group of foreign apprentices, as reported by Germany’s Federal Statistical Office. This is a striking 61% increase from the previous year, fueled by Germany’s post-Covid-19 recovery and its Skilled Immigration Act, initially approved in June 2019.
With further revisions to the law in 2023 and a formal Berlin-Hanoi partnership established in 2024, the migration pathways for non-EU vocational workers have never been easier. However, this rapid growth beckons a darker side: a rising vulnerability to exploitation from unscrupulous brokers in Vietnam, who often demand exorbitant fees reaching as high as €20,000 (S$30,200) to facilitate a move to Germany for vocational training.
Mr. Nguyen, along with labor and migrant advocates, emphasizes the alarming rate of financial exploitation, stating, “The more we researched, the more we realized the student training placement industry has been built in a way where there’s a lot of false advertising, empty promises, and financial exploitation.” As the co-founder and CEO of Alma Recruiting, he aims to circumvent the dishonest middlemen, offering guidance to young Vietnamese on legal migration pathways.
Vietnamese social media influencers and self-styled “experts” frequently paint an idyllic picture of life in Germany, leading many young people to pay steep fees. Yet, the alluring promotional content often glosses over harsh realities like integration challenges and the difficulty of finding affordable housing in major German cities, all while creating unrealistic salary expectations.
The demographic most susceptible to these enticing offers are Vietnamese youth in their late teens and early twenties. Having recently finished high school and lacking travel experience or professional training, they are eager to explore the world abroad while developing vocational skills. The idea of repaying substantial loans over one to two years seems feasible, especially considering Vietnam’s annual GDP per capita— a mere US$4,000 (S$5,142) in 2024.
However, this burden is exacerbated by brokers who may funnel clients toward predatory lenders imposing exorbitant interest rates. In Germany, starting salaries for vocational trainees rarely exceed €1,200 monthly, complicating repayment plans for many young migrants.
Advocates criticize the poorly regulated recruitment processes on both ends of the migration spectrum. As Ms. Mimi Vu, co-founder of the Vietnam International Safe Labour Alliance (VISLA), points out, “Agencies have free rein to charge whatever they wish.” Many Vietnamese workers mistakenly believe they need to engage middlemen for migration, leading to financial despair.
Germany offers not just a vocational track but also pathways for trained nurses and professionals in hospitality. The 2024 Berlin-Hanoi labor agreement underscores a commitment from both governments to tackle the risks of exploitation. Regular roundtables discuss migration challenges, highlighting a mutual interest in safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable workers.
Labor migration not only helps Germany address urgent labor shortages due to declining birth rates, but it also serves Vietnam as a critical avenue for job creation and poverty alleviation. According to the World Bank, Vietnam ranked as the 12th largest recipient of remittances among low- and middle-income countries in 2024, amounting to US$14.7 billion, which makes up over 3% of its GDP.
Despite impressive economic growth, Vietnam’s development model still heavily relies on low labor costs to attract foreign investment. As VISLA notes, factory workers earn less than half what their Chinese counterparts make. This situation has resulted in significant underemployment for young Vietnamese, pushing many to seek opportunities abroad.
Statistics from Vietnam’s General Statistics Office reveal a concerning rise in youth unemployment, jumping from 8.2% to 9% in just a quarter, while the overall unemployment rate remains low at 2.2%. Alarmingly, over 10% of Vietnamese youth aged 15 to 24 find themselves neither employed nor engaged in education or training.
Germany’s multiple migration tracks and the chance for long-term residency make it an attractive destination for Vietnamese youth. However, the initial legality of their moves can be overshadowed by a troubling trend: many dropouts from vocational placements resort to unauthorized jobs, often in exploitative environments. Reports of over 200 Vietnamese trainees disappearing from a leading vocational school in Berlin paint a troubling picture, raising fears of their involvement in the black economy.
In response to these rising concerns, Mr. Nguyen and friends, including Son Le Duc, Anh Nguyen, and Maddin Truong, conceived the idea for Alma Recruiting in late 2024. They aspire to scale their efforts by seeking funding opportunities in 2026, focusing on providing accurate guidance to young migrants about the realities of working and living in Germany.
“Our value proposition begins with what is real,” Mr. Nguyen explains. “Students often lack proper guidance, leading them to Germany under false expectations and inadequate support.” This gap often leaves young migrants vulnerable to exploitation and feeling isolated, pushing them toward the underground economy. Alma aims to bridge this divide through education and community-building.
Leveraging their bicultural advantages, Mr. Nguyen and his team span Berlin and Ho Chi Minh City, collaborating with reputable German-language schools to create pathways for their clients into vocational training programs in Germany. The ultimate goal is to eliminate costly intermediaries using technology while providing extensive pre- and post-arrival support.
Take Ms. Nguyen Minh Khue as an example. After completing the first year of her dental assistant training in Stuttgart, she praises Alma for helping her secure reliable housing. This support proves invaluable for young migrants trying to integrate into a foreign society.
Dedicated to creating a sense of community, Alma also pairs older trainees with newcomers to help them settle in. Ms. Nguyen plans to mentor incoming students just as her seniors once supported her, contributing to a nurturing network.
For Mr. Nguyen and his partners, the mission is not just business; it’s personal. As children of first-generation migrants, they carry the weight of their parents’ legacy, which includes both the struggles and opportunities that come from a life shaped by migration. Since the 1950s, the Vietnamese presence in Germany has grown significantly, with initiatives such as the 1980 industrial training pact fostering labor ties between the two nations.
As of 2024, the Federal Statistical Office reports 226,000 individuals of Vietnamese descent in Germany, with a substantial portion being first-generation migrants. Despite this historical growth, many Vietnamese still live in segregated communities, leading to limited interactions with broader German society.
Historian Professor Frank Bosch notes that while there’s a general respect for Vietnamese hard work, misconceptions persist, leading to underutilization of their talent in the broader job market. Opportunities are frequently missed as many young Vietnamese lack the necessary connections or knowledge to navigate the complexities of life in Germany.
At cultural hubs like Dong Xuan Centre, known as Berlin’s “Little Hanoi,” the depth of the community is evident, yet it also highlights the challenges many face. While connecting Vietnamese migrants to one another, some unscrupulous businesses exploit newcomers, often inflating basic service costs.
Hopes for a brighter future rest on initiatives like Alma Recruiting, which strive to empower young Vietnamese with the knowledge and resources they need to forge their own paths in Germany. “Our parents focused on creating a better future for us,” Mr. Nguyen reflects. “Now, it’s our turn to ensure that the next generation is not set up to fail but is instead equipped for success.”