Why Vietnamese Apprentices Are Vanishing From German Vocational Schools

A sudden exodus from a Berlin classroom

Over 200 Vietnamese students enrolled at a Berlin hospitality vocational school have disappeared from lessons and workplace training in recent months, a wave that mirrors reports from institutions across Germany over the past two years. At the Brillat Savarin School in Berlin’s Weissensee district, the tally equates to about one third of the Vietnamese cohort, a dramatic fall that has unsettled teachers and employers who depend on apprentices to keep kitchens, dining rooms and hotel services running.

Where these trainees go after dropping out is not fully clear. German customs and police have conducted checks and raids at nail salons and restaurants in Berlin and other cities. Investigators suspect that many absconders find irregular work in those venues, slipping into jobs that pay cash and bypass training obligations. The pattern, unions and advocates say, reflects a mix of debt, unrealistic expectations and opaque recruitment practices that push young people toward fast money.

Sebastian Riesner, managing director of the Food, Beverages and Catering Union in the Berlin Brandenburg region, said authorities and schools still lack a complete picture of the scale of the problem or the whereabouts of many who left their programs.

‘We don’t really know where they’ve gone,’ said Riesner.

The sudden exits spotlight a broader tension in the German labor market. Employers face chronic staffing gaps in hospitality and care. The vocational track has become an essential pipeline for talent, and German firms have turned to non European Union countries to fill spots. Vietnam has become a key partner in that effort, sending thousands of young people with the promise of paid training, German qualifications and a path to steady work.

Germany is home to around 16,000 vocational trainees from Vietnam, with about 4,000 arriving in 2024 alone. That makes Vietnam one of the largest sources of apprentices outside the European Union. The scale of the flow and the spate of disappearances have now drawn attention from unions, educators and migrant support groups who want stronger safeguards without shutting off opportunities.

How Germany’s training system works and why it attracts Vietnam

Germany’s dual vocational education system links classroom theory with paid on the job learning. Apprentices typically spend four days a week with a company and one day at a vocational school. From day one they earn a wage. In hospitality, first year pay often averages around 1,000 euros per month before deductions, rising in later years. Successful trainees earn a qualification that is widely recognized by employers across the country.

What the dual system offers

The model appeals to many Vietnamese youths who want both experience and income. It promises real workplace skills, a recognized certificate and a pathway into the European job market. For German employers, it offers a steady stream of motivated learners who can be trained to company standards while helping with daily operations. For the trainees, the combination of work and school in a structured setting can be more attractive than purely academic study.

There are challenges that do not fit easily into recruitment flyers. Technical vocabulary in German can be daunting. Kitchens and hotel operations demand stamina and irregular hours. Apprentices must attend classes, manage shifts and keep up with assignments. The learning curve is steep, and support on the job varies by employer. None of these hurdles are unique to foreign trainees, but language and integration pressures can make the adjustment harder in the first months.

Debt, brokers and questionable language certificates

Behind many disappearances lies a hard financial reality. Several Vietnamese trainees paid large recruitment fees to brokers in Vietnam, sometimes up to 20,000 euros. Families often take on loans to cover those costs with the expectation that the student will quickly send money home. That debt then becomes a powerful incentive to seek higher pay as soon as possible, even if it means leaving a training program.

Union officials and school staff in Berlin say some arrivals present language certificates that later appear to be forged or fraudulently obtained. Weak language skills do not just affect classroom learning. They hinder safety briefings, customer interactions and the basic communication that keeps a workplace running smoothly. When training stalls, the temptation to take a job that promises quick cash can grow.

Advocates in Berlin point to aggressive and sometimes misleading social media marketing in Vietnam that overstates earnings. Recruiters on fast moving platforms like TikTok often highlight headline gross salaries in Germany and downplay deductions for taxes and social insurance, according to migrant support groups. The gap between a glossy pitch and the pay that actually lands in a bank account can surprise newcomers and leave them struggling to cover rent, food and transport while also sending money home.

Migrant rights groups say the solution starts long before a visa is issued. Clear predeparture counseling, honest information about net pay and living costs, and verified language testing can make the difference between a successful apprenticeship and a rushed exit. They argue that many of these young people never intended to break rules. They set out to learn, earn and help their families. Disinformation, debt and a mismatch between expectations and reality can push them off course.

Where the missing trainees surface

Inspections led by German customs, often in partnership with local police, have targeted sectors known for irregular employment. Nail salons and small restaurants stand out in recent reports. These businesses can absorb labor quickly. They rely on personal networks and cash payments, and they sometimes prioritize speed over contracts and compliance. That mix makes them a magnet for anyone who needs immediate income and wishes to avoid official oversight.

Authorities say the aim of these checks is not only to catch violations but to identify people at risk of exploitation. When trainees leave programs they also lose the protection of school staff and workplace mentors. With a large loan to repay and limited language skills, a young person can be easy prey for abusive conditions such as unpaid overtime or wages below legal minimums.

Riesner, who works closely with hospitality trainees and employers in the capital region, says that unions are fielding more inquiries from students who feel stuck between debt at home and demands at work. In his words, the problem is still not fully mapped.

‘We don’t really know where they’ve gone,’ said Riesner.

The prospect of a return to formal education grows dimmer the longer a trainee remains outside the system. Each missed week of instruction widens the gap in both theory and practice. The risk then is a spiral toward irregular work, where the focus shifts from training and career building to survival and debt repayment.

Pay reality, living costs and culture shock

In Germany, advertised apprentice pay is a gross figure. After payroll taxes and mandatory social insurance, take home pay is meaningfully lower. First year hospitality wages are modest, and many newcomers are surprised by living costs. Rents in Berlin and other large cities have risen. Apartments often require a deposit and basic furnishings. Transport passes, health costs not covered by insurance and everyday expenses add up. If a trainee also sends money home, the margin becomes thin.

These pressures overlap with a routine that can be demanding. A four day work week in a kitchen or hotel often includes early mornings, late nights and weekend shifts. Added to that is a school day devoted to vocational theory and language. Some trainees share rooms far from their workplaces, which means long commutes. When stress mounts, the lure of a full time job with immediate cash pay can appear to solve problems quickly, even if it creates new legal risks.

Fixing the pipeline without closing the door

Unions, schools and migrant advocates are promoting practical steps that retain trainees and protect their rights. Employers can provide clearer induction on workplace expectations and pay. Schools can add targeted language support, especially for technical terminology. Recruiters and partner schools in Vietnam can deliver honest briefings about the cost of living and the realities of work in hospitality and care. A verified chain for language certificates can reduce the risk of fraud.

The Vietnamese diaspora in Germany has also begun to build a more transparent bridge. One example is Alma Recruiting, founded in early 2024 by migrants who successfully trained and worked in Germany. The agency says it vets both companies and candidates, delivers early career counseling and subject specific language preparation, and matches trainees with structured corporate partnerships. The aim is to reduce dropouts by aligning expectations with real workplace conditions before a contract is signed.

Nonprofits such as the Berlin based Vietnam International Safe Labour Alliance are pushing for industry standards that penalize deceptive marketing and excessive fees in Vietnam. They encourage governments and reputable agencies to publish a clear schedule of legitimate costs, to run social media campaigns that counter misinformation, and to create hotlines where trainees can seek help if they are pressured to abandon school for illegal work.

The legal stakes for trainees and employers

Apprentices in Germany usually hold a residence permit tied to their training contract. If a trainee leaves without securing another recognized placement, that status can be at risk. Remaining in the country without a valid basis exposes the person to enforcement actions and deepens vulnerability to exploitation. Trainees who encounter abuse or cannot continue with a particular employer often have lawful options to change training companies, but time is short and guidance is essential.

Enforcement against illegal work is focused on both sides of the transaction. The customs authority investigates employers who underpay staff, hire without contracts or misuse trainee permits. Companies found in violation face fines and back payments for wages and social contributions. Workers may face consequences for working without authorization. Advisers urge any trainee in trouble to contact unions, legal aid or official advisory centers promptly to explore solutions that keep them within the legal training framework.

How Berlin and Hanoi could cooperate

Preventing disappearances will likely require coordinated action. German and Vietnamese authorities can work with schools and reputable agencies to verify language credentials, track attendance within privacy limits, and ensure fast support for any trainee who signals distress. Consular outreach, information sessions in Vietnamese and clear guidance on how to change employers within the system can keep students engaged with training rather than drifting into shadow jobs.

The fundamental interests align. German employers need trained staff, and Vietnam has a young workforce eager for skills and international exposure. With transparent recruitment, realistic pay and cost information, and strong support during the first months, the apprenticeship route can remain a genuine opportunity rather than a detour into irregular work.

Comparative snapshot beyond Germany

Other countries are reworking migration channels tied to education. Australia recently more than doubled student visa fees and shortened the period graduates can remain, saying it wants to reduce migration and maintain program integrity. The policies are different from a vocational permit in Germany, yet the direction is similar. Governments are seeking to balance labor needs with tighter controls and closer scrutiny of recruitment practices.

That global context matters because misinformation thrives on comparisons. Headlines about big salaries abroad or easy paths to residency can mask fine print. When policies change, responsible agencies must update their outreach quickly, or young people will fill the gaps with rumors and risky decisions.

Key Points

• Over 200 Vietnamese trainees have disappeared from a Berlin hospitality school in recent months, part of a two year trend across Germany.
• About one third of the Vietnamese cohort at Berlin’s Brillat Savarin School is no longer attending classes or training shifts.
• German customs and police raids on nail salons and restaurants suggest some absconders are working illegally in those sectors.
• Vietnamese trainees number around 16,000 nationwide, with about 4,000 arrivals in 2024.
• Placement fees in Vietnam can reach 20,000 euros, creating pressure to earn quickly and repay family debt.
• Union accounts cite forged or fraudulently obtained language certificates and misleading social media that overstates pay.
• First year apprentice pay around 1,000 euros gross leaves a lower take home after deductions, while living costs in German cities are high.
• Advocates urge verified language testing, honest predeparture counseling and ethical recruitment, with new diaspora led agencies offering vetted placements.