HBO college Avans+ is to pay 50 nurses from Indonesia compensation after being accused of exploiting and lying to them. The college had already settled out of court with 14 other nurses who were awarded a total compensation package of €100,000.

The nurses, who were recruited by the Dutch college and jobs agency for traineeships, claimed they were brought to the Netherlands under false pretences.

They were given a grant of €950 on arrival but were immediately expected to work full time.

Unlike other students, they were not allowed to work in their preferred jobs but were offered places in home nursing and elderly care. “But most of us wanted to work in a hospital, that is where our expertise is. (…) I have learned nothing new here,” one of the nurses said.

The college also failed to pay the nurses’ moving costs of €7,750, which the college claimed, had to do with “complicated tax rules”.

All 50 students will now receive €7,000 in compensation, local broadcaster RTV Drenthe reported. The nurses who pursued the court case will receive an extra €1,000 to pay legal costs, provided they do not criticise the college in future.

According to the lawyer for Avans+ the gagging clause was included in the agreement to put an end to the conflict.  However, the students’ lawyer Rob van der Pas said they had been effectively “silenced” by the college.

“My clients were good enough to come to the Netherlands and work four days a week but Avans+ won’t allow them to say what they think of the way the college treated them,” he said.