- 13 hours ago
Working for a delivery service is a tough job anywhere – and one done by thousands of foreign students in Germany. How are they finding life in their new home?
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Over 1 million young Indian people study in other countries, with almost 60,000 in Germany alone.
00:07Most of them here have to take on jobs to support themselves, with delivery drivers and riders one of the biggest groups.
00:13It's demanding work, and in the majority of cases with no job security or benefits.
00:18Why is Germany such a popular option, and what's life like for Indian students here?
00:24Welcome to the new edition of Made, where we'll be taking a special look at people living and working abroad.
00:32Also coming up on the show, how dependent is Italy on recruiting more immigrants?
00:39In which areas are Spanish employers hungry for foreign workers?
00:44And why does Pakistan attract so few foreign investors?
00:54Sumit Kumar and Rishabh Agrawal are studying at a private college in Berlin, where classes are small and in English, but don't come cheap.
01:07Their families are financing their studies, in Sumit's case to the tune of 14,000 euros for a Masters in Computer Science.
01:15Germany is the main country in terms of employment, in terms of money.
01:21This is the worldiest country, that is the main thing, and there are more jobs here.
01:26First reason, UK, US, these were pretty expensive.
01:30Also, the economy was declining.
01:32US, as we see today, that there are many political problems, with many Indians getting their visas rejected and so many problems.
01:42The international university in Berlin has a large foreign intake, with almost 2,000 students from India alone, a niche market where Germany is becoming increasingly popular.
01:54We have over 200 degree programs in total, many of which are in English, which is of course attractive for international students.
02:03In particular, we offer great flexibility. You can study here however you like, whether online degrees or on campus or in the virtual campus.
02:12We try to set it up so that the courses adapt to the students' lives and not the other way around, which is highly attractive. And that gets around.
02:22Kashmir in northern India. Snober Khan is intent on studying biotechnology in Germany and is now learning the language on YouTube.
02:33The 23-year-old wants to move to Munich next year, with the whole family having saved up for her plans.
02:39I chose Germany because the universities there are known for science and research. The environment is safe. I like the culture and lifestyle there. I want to get to know the culture. I think Germany is better for me because it's more affordable. It costs less and the connections between our countries are good.
03:04And Snober's assessment is borne out by the figures. At almost 13%, Indians already constitute the largest group of foreign students in Germany, followed by Chinese and Turkish students, with 10% and almost 5% respectively.
03:19At the Goethe Institute in Delhi, German language courses are fully booked.
03:24Traditionally, Indian students go to the UK, the US and other English-speaking countries.
03:33Everything was trending in that direction. But recently, we've noticed that the policies in these countries have become a bit more restrictive. Visa regulations have become stricter, which has made post-study employment a bit more difficult in these countries.
03:49Germany has a policy that makes these things very well regulated. The granting of visas has become streamlined and a large number of students receive a visa.
03:59German state universities are free of charge, which is obviously appealing.
04:04The education in Germany, as we all know, is state-sponsored and funded by the public. So that's what attracted me, firstly. And secondly, the living standards, European standards are pretty good. Moreover, it is a peaceful country, politically stable.
04:22Germany has also made it easier to enter. To obtain a residency permit, you have to prove that you can support yourself to the tune of 11,904 euros per year or 992 per month.
04:37And you have to have health insurance. But studying in Germany also has its downsides. Most students have to work to get by. A conspicuously high proportion of delivery drivers come from India.
04:52And they are often self-employed without any legal protection.
04:56In Germany, many delivery drivers are not permanently employed and work as bogus self-employed persons.
05:04The other problem is that they are often employed by subcontractors who don't even work for the platform they are delivering for.
05:11In this system, there are no state control options. There are no works councils or trade unions, which are the immune system to protect people from exploitation in Germany.
05:23And that doesn't exist at all in this swamp.
05:28That's why the union has called for a demonstration. Sumit Kumar has also joined in.
05:33He has a contract with the delivery service Lieferando, one of the few companies in the sector, to employ its drivers properly.
05:40But now Lieferando also wants to fire several thousand drivers and render them self-employed, leaving Sumit appalled.
05:48In Berlin, it is very hard to get any job as a student. If you don't know German, subcontracting is not a good idea.
05:58And even if you come from India or any country, and if you are living in Germany, and they are practicing this kind of thing, that is fun.
06:08In the fleet system, we have no job security. We have no sick leave. We have no paid sick leave.
06:15So we are against the fleet system. Many of the companies are working in the fleet system for many years.
06:22Back in India, Snobur spends a lot of time with her sister and mother.
06:28At university in Germany, her everyday life could be very different.
06:32Nevertheless, Snobur would be prepared to accept the culture shock for a professional career.
06:38Leaving the comfort of home? Well, there will be language problems.
06:43How am I supposed to manage it all? I'll be alone. It's all difficult for me.
06:47But I have to accept it. Little by little, everything will be manageable.
06:52Snobur is prepared to leave home for this. The family has land and grows its own fruit and vegetables.
06:57Snobur believes that she can earn money for the whole family if she studies and works in Germany.
07:03Studying in Europe doesn't mean I have to give up everything. My relationships and my family will always be with me.
07:10I will never leave them. Yes, I want to work there, but I will return to my home country one day.
07:17Sumit in Berlin, on the other hand, wants to stay.
07:21Like his fellow students, he could imagine living and working in Europe in the long term.
07:26Then he also hopes to find a better job and no longer have to work as a delivery driver.
07:32In my opinion, I have to learn German also. And I have to be here for at least five years.
07:40And then I will think, okay, it's really good or not.
07:43I am satisfied. I'm feeling good. I'm feeling like home.
07:47And as far as the country is concerned, yes, it is a bit difficult to manage expenses, your studies, finances and the issues with houses and all.
08:00Expectations of Germany are high, but while there are obviously hurdles to overcome, these two men have come a long way.
08:17What's your dream destination to live and work in?
08:21Italy obviously has its attractions.
08:25The right-wing government there had promised to curb immigration, but has now instead decided to issue half a million work permits for people from outside the EU.
08:35The idea is to address an ageing population and tackle worker scarcity in sectors such as construction, agriculture and healthcare.
08:43A game-changing move?
08:50As Italy ages and an unprecedented number of Italians leave the country in search of better opportunities, it is looking for people to sustain its economy.
08:59By next year, one in three businesses in Italy is set to hire workers from outside the EU.
09:06But there is a dire shortage in supply of workers needed in various sectors like construction.
09:12Arben Mece, an employee at a local construction company in Rome, says his firm is in desperate need of workers.
09:21Young Italians, he says, are not interested in applying for the many vacant blue-collar job opportunities.
09:27We are currently working on three construction sites. There aren't enough workers to complete all projects.
09:36So, instead of curbing immigration as the Italian government promised, it has decided to issue half a million more work permits for non-EU nationals between 2026 and 2028 under a multi-year policy framework called Decreto Flussi.
09:52Businesses such as these were unhappy with the pushback in the Italian government against non-European workers.
09:59But now hope an increase in flow of workers will allow them to restart work at sites like this, an under-construction restaurant in an upmarket locality.
10:10Other businesses, such as this luxury residence in the heart of Rome, which employs nearly all foreigners, are equally pleased.
10:18The hospitality industry is huge in this country. So, there are only in Rome, I think, more than thousands of properties. So, everyone is always looking for new employees.
10:30It's the same in Venice, where Mohamed Al Said lives now. A sea diving instructor in Egypt, he is now a barista at the city's airport.
10:41Mohamed was brought to Venice by a placement agency after he was taught Italian, and feels he has an advantage over others hoping to move to Italy since he learnt the language before arriving.
10:51But that doesn't save him from weird looks.
10:54The people are giving me this weird look. It doesn't matter if it's because of my skin colour or because of my origin or whatever. I'm just showing them that I'm just a human being like you.
11:06But he has been brought in, in addition to 500,000 workers, to be recruited under the quota system.
11:14The placement agency that has brought him to Italy says the government has offered additional tools to meet the needs of businesses.
11:21Some say Decreto Flusi is the way forward to provide businesses with the workers they need whilst also offering legal ways for workers to enter the country.
11:32But does it help the government in reducing irregular immigration?
11:36Not in the agricultural sector, says Alessandra Valentini, Regional General Secretary of a major agricultural union.
11:43Many workers who are here and have become irregular arrived through Decreto Flusi, which allowed them to enter Italy legally, with a promise of work, but which then didn't turn into an official work contract.
12:05Irregular workers cost less, she added. Experts say compliance is an issue.
12:11There should be more regular checks so that, you know, if someone is brought to the country with sort of the promise of a job, this person actually get the job.
12:24The effectiveness of government policy is still under question and some argue that those already in the country should be regularised first.
12:32But there is no disagreement that whatever the dominant political narrative, Italy needs more working age immigrants now.
12:39Spain is currently setting the pace in Europe. After years of sluggish growth, its economy surged by 3.5% last year, way ahead of the likes of Italy or Germany.
12:58Experts say the momentum will continue. Powered not only by record tourism numbers, but also by a new driving force, immigration.
13:05Last year, 85% of all new jobs were filled by foreign workers and dual nationals. Yet labour shortages persist. Why? And what's the solution?
13:16A boom in construction on the beaches and in the cities. Spain's economy is humming, but it all depends on foreign workers.
13:28They are, in fact, the solution to our labour shortage.
13:36Without support from abroad, we wouldn't have been able to welcome so many tourists.
13:42Whether in Marbella or Madrid, Spain's construction industry is back in full swing. But the days when locals rush to building sites for quick cash are over.
13:54Today, new projects rely on migrant workers like Hamid Marey from Morocco.
13:59For job seekers, it's a golden opportunity. Hamid and Alejandra from Colombia are part of a growing community.
14:0590% of all new jobs created in the past two years have been filled by immigrants.
14:16These jobs have emerged mainly in the fastest growing sectors, tourism, hotels and restaurants.
14:23It's no surprise. In just two years, Spain welcomed 20 million more visitors.
14:28At the same time, around 600,000 migrants arrived seeking work.
14:32And they're finding it, in roles many Spaniards no longer want.
14:39Locals are aiming for better paid, less physically demanding jobs, with fewer working hours.
14:46And that leaves these types of positions to immigrants.
14:54Salvador Gallardo's restaurant on the Mediterranean coast is one example.
14:57Just one of the kitchen staff is Spanish. The rest are from North Africa or South America.
15:03Together, they're helping Spain's economy grow faster than other EU nations.
15:08But what sounds like a success story doesn't benefit everyone.
15:11The country's overall wealth is growing because the population has grown.
15:21It's as if we suddenly became a much larger country.
15:25But per capita income, which is what actually matters to most people, is still lagging.
15:31One reason is that Spain has long struggled with low productivity.
15:39Simply adding more workers isn't enough.
15:42Especially in construction, companies are now looking for greater efficiency, also driven by ongoing labour shortages.
15:48The plan is to use automation to build more quickly and make the sector more attractive.
15:55We're also trying to reach out to groups that don't usually see themselves in our industry, such as young people and women.
16:05So far, most immigrants are still working in lower skilled jobs.
16:12But Spain is becoming increasingly appealing to businesses and skilled professionals.
16:17Even Andalusia, long known mainly as a holiday destination, is changing.
16:23Take Malaga's Technology Park.
16:25Since the end of the pandemic, more and more international talent has been moving here, including senior managers with international experience.
16:36We employ people from over 28 countries.
16:39We chose Malaga because of its quality of life.
16:41The climate, food, people and ecosystem draw international talent.
16:47In the longer run, though, Spain's success could become a challenge.
16:50If the economy slows, low skilled workers would be the first to lose their jobs.
17:03Are you afraid of being made redundant by the robots?
17:07Digitalisation and AI are transforming the working world, with up to 40% of jobs worldwide at risk of disappearing in the near future.
17:15And 60% of all tasks could undergo major changes.
17:18At the same time, experts believe that automation and AI will create 170 million new jobs.
17:26So, a case of technology being our replacement?
17:30Or our partner?
17:34Why are some jobs dying out?
17:37Some professions are disappearing forever.
17:40Mostly because of digitalisation and automation.
17:42Machines fed by algorithms are ticking over occupations that humans once did.
17:49Like insurance agents, bank employees, postal workers or travel agents.
17:55Traditional jobs, such as street vendors, bookbinders or shepherds, are especially at risk of vanishing.
18:02What's driving this trend?
18:04Online shopping is replacing in-store sales.
18:07Customers are booking and buying directly themselves.
18:13Digital tools are cutting out the middleman.
18:16Is this development AI-driven?
18:18Automation lowers costs and speeds up tasks, making some roles obsolete.
18:23But there is another reason many people simply don't want to do these jobs anymore.
18:30Finding them tedious.
18:32But many occupations won't disappear.
18:35They'll change and transform.
18:38Especially in fields where creativity, empathy, problem solving and other human skills matter most.
18:44Jobs like social workers, healthcare professionals and teachers.
18:51These jobs will stay essential even in a digital future.
18:55And digitalisation will also create jobs.
18:59For example, IT experts, AI trainers, engineers or mathematicians.
19:05The key is adaptability and learning.
19:09Because the future of work isn't just what's lost.
19:11It's what we make of it.
19:20Pakistan needs foreign investment in its infrastructure.
19:24Its demographics make it an ideal destination.
19:27As do its geographic location and an abundance of natural wealth.
19:33But that outside funding remains strikingly low.
19:37Why isn't Pakistan attracting the capital it needs?
19:39And what are the potential downsides of more foreign investment?
19:50Pakistan, a country rich in natural resources.
19:53Home to a young population.
19:55And strategically positioned at the crossroads of some of the world's largest economies.
19:59It should be a magnet for foreign investment.
20:01But is it?
20:02Why is that?
20:04For the last 40 years, Pakistan's macroeconomic framework is not conducive to productive investment.
20:16Money is made by speculation rather than production of goods or services.
20:21A focus on short-term gains, limited exports and weak production has stunted the impact of foreign direct investment.
20:33Let's put this into perspective.
20:34Over the past four years, FDI in Pakistan has barely reached 0.6% of GDP, low for a developing country.
20:47By contrast, Vietnam's FDI stands at 4.4% of GDP.
20:51So what's holding foreign investors back?
20:54We have allowed profit repatriation.
20:58We have also allowed ownership, 100% ownership of companies by foreigners.
21:03And generally, we have been quite flexible about the nature of the FDI.
21:11On paper, Pakistan has taken steps to attract investors.
21:16But the reality tells a different story.
21:20It is an anti-business tax policy.
21:23And if you look at a typical multinational company in Pakistan, it may have to pay 50 to 60% of its income in tax.
21:32Add that to the growing involvement of the military in the business space, and investor confidence begins to wane.
21:41There is a whole military commercial empire.
21:45They are into almost every sector of the economy.
21:49They are into industry, insurance, banking.
21:54They have even laundries.
21:59Because they get privileged treatment, the private sector is suffering.
22:03So the competition, my point is that competition in some sectors is not that strong, which will then allow the investors to operate.
22:18There's also a shortage of skilled talent, despite Pakistan's young population, with an average age of just 23.
22:25It's not easy to find skilled manpower in Pakistan because we are losing our skilled manpower to Europe, to U.S., to the Gulf countries.
22:38And so that's another challenge, I think, which investors in Pakistan face.
22:43Despite these challenges, Pakistan still attracts some foreign investment.
22:49Its geopolitical location makes it appealing, especially to neighboring countries.
22:53Pakistan as a developing country sits in a region which is next to the largest economies in terms of the growth situated.
23:11So we are next to China and next to India.
23:16And also Pakistan is next to Central Asia.
23:19Over the past five years, China has invested 2.88 billion euros, making it Pakistan's largest foreign investor.
23:27Hong Kong follows with around 900 million, while the United Kingdom, United States and the United Arab Emirates have also made significant contributions.
23:36The Chinese investment has not really contributed to the economy.
23:43Yes, we have had a lot of investment.
23:46There's far more Chinese loans and rollovers than investments that are beneficial to the economy.
23:55Take Gwadhar Port, for example.
23:56We leased out Gwadhar Port for 40 years to China, and it turned out that the revenue sharing formula between China and Pakistan on Gwadhar Port revenues was 9% for Pakistan and 91% for China.
24:13China's investments in Pakistan go beyond Gwadhar Port, encompassing various infrastructure projects, including power plants.
24:21Over the past five years, the energy sector has been the primary recipient of foreign direct investment, attracting approximately 3.5 billion euros.
24:32This is followed by the financial sector with 1.3 billion, oil and gas exploration with 1 billion, and investments in communication and trade.
24:40While Chinese investments have strengthened Pakistan's infrastructure, their economic benefits and long-term sustainability remain subjects of debate.
24:52If it does not begin to change in the next two to three years, then perhaps we will never change.
24:58Pakistan is now actively seeking foreign investment to tap into its vast mineral wealth, including gold, lithium, copper and other rare earth elements, a major opportunity to boost the economy.
25:13The world around us is essentially on a reset mode.
25:18And that reset mode offers both opportunities and threats.
25:23Pakistan holds immense potential, but making it a reality will require comprehensive reforms and political stability.
25:34And that's it for this edition of MADE, looking at which countries are desperate to recruit foreign workers and how those individuals fare in their new homes.
25:50While other countries have problems attracting both workers and investments for the future.
25:56That's all from us. Bye-bye.
Be the first to comment