“Delivered”: New rbb documentary sheds light on the fate of Indian students in Berlin

On December 2, 2025, rbb broadcast the documentary "Delivered! The Courier Business ." This documentary, a co-production of rbb and NDR, takes an unflinching look at the lives of thousands of Indian students in German cities. Many of them come to Germany with the dream of studying and securing better prospects. But the reality, documented by Fabian Grieger and Jan Wiese after months of research, paints a different picture: precarious working conditions, unpaid wages, and systematic exploitation are the daily reality for the young couriers who work for companies like Wolt , Lieferando , and Uber Eats . The documentary also examines the connection between the exploitation of Indian students at private universities in Germany (particularly the so-called IU cases ) and clearly demonstrates how a market emerges in which young people are forced into undeclared work through sham employment contracts and subcontractors.

The system of exploitation

The documentary makes it clear: These are not isolated incidents, but a structural problem. Indian Students are lured to Germany through dubious private educational institutions , often with the promise of a "valuable" education. In reality, landlords, subcontractors, and the universities themselves are the primary beneficiaries. Victims like Shiwani Sharma, who is heavily pregnant and waiting in vain for her salary to be paid, or Parmod Kumar, who sensed from day one that he was being deceived, are symbolic of the dark side of the system.

Subcontractors, in particular, cleverly exploit loopholes in labor law : Employees are not officially employed directly by the platforms, thus circumventing minimum wage regulations and social security. The documentary illustrates this practice using concrete cases in which couriers receive their money in cash in envelopes – and even then, often not in full.

Indian couriers and private university system

The exploitation of Indian couriers shown in "Delivered!" is closely linked to the experiences of many international students , particularly those at IU International University . The documentary not only depicts the direct exploitation of Indian couriers by subcontractors and precarious working conditions, but also makes it clear that placement in private universities and study programs is part of the same system . Young people are lured to Germany by private agencies with enticing promises – supposedly for a valuable education at a university that promises practical experience and career opportunities. In reality, the students pay high fees, incur debt, and subsequently become dependent on dubious employers or subcontractors to secure their livelihood . This structural exploitation begins even before arrival, through misleading placement promises and the systematic use of students as a workforce . The overall picture painted by the documentary is therefore not only that of precarious work on bicycles, but a complex network of profiteers that builds on the hopes and labor of young (especially Indian ) people – repeatedly driving them into existential hardship.

Conclusion: Hope and exploitation in Germany

"Delivered!" is more than just a report on delivery drivers. It's a reflection of the reality faced by many Indian students in Germany. The documentary illustrates how migrants who arrive with high hopes can easily get caught in a web of financial hardship, overwork, and legal uncertainty. For lawyers specializing in immigration and labor law, this is a prime example of how closely visa, study, and employment law are intertwined.

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• taz.de - Exploited Hope

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• spiegel.de - The dark side of Germany's largest university