When a Test Center Becomes a Sweatshop (#1: The Context)
This is a long story about my fellow social scientist Bjørn working at a rapid antigen test center in Berlin.
(The information regarding concerned people’s identities and where they live has been changed to protect their privacy)
Part 2 of the story is here; part 3 is here; part 4 is here.
About Bjørn
I met Bjørn on Couchsurfing. We had many things in common. For instance, coming from non-EU countries, Ph.D. students in social science, speaking lousy German, and needing a part-time job to support our studies. Hence we became close friends not long after he hosted me when I could not find a place in Berlin.
Bjørn came to Germany in 2017. He rushed to the country without a clear plan because he wanted to escape from his family and society. Plus, he wanted to reunite with his German partner back then. So he came here with the money he borrowed from a bank. And because he wished to settle in Germany as soon as possible, he did not learn German very well. The lack of a proficient local language has posed some challenges to his life in Germany.
For example, it has been difficult for him to find a place to live since he was incapable of writing…
