Focus Taiwan
Date: 05/28/2020
By: Chen Chih-chung and Matthew Mazzetta

Taipei, May 28 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of Education (MOE) said Thursday it will investigate allegations by a teacher's union that students from Eswatini, the nation's only diplomatic ally in Africa, were forced into exploitive "internships" after enrolling in a work/study program at MingDao University (MDU) in Changhua County.

The case, which only broke in the Taiwanese media last week, goes back to 2018 when MDU recruited about 40 students to a four-year "Taiwan Work/Study Scholarship" program, promising the opportunity to develop off-campus work skills and experience while completing a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.

In a recruitment brochure, the university offered applicants a range of financial inducements, while touting the program as "ultra-affordable."

In November 2018, Eswatini media reported that the students were being forced to work 40 hours a week peeling chicken skins in a refrigerated factory in exchange for their lessons and accommodation.    [FULL  STORY]