Germany's Customs Launch Massive Crackdown on Black Work
Customs officers across Germany conducted a large-scale inspection on June 16, 2025, targeting black work and illegal employment. The Financial Control of Black Work of the Customs (FKS) led the operation, involving around 2,800 officers from main customs offices nationwide.
The inspection, part of the FKS's risk-oriented approach, checked if employers had registered employees for social security, if social benefits were being fraudulently obtained, if foreigners had necessary work permits or residence titles, and if minimum wages were being paid. In the construction sector, branch-specific minimum wages apply, such as those for roofing, electrical, and scaffolding trades, while the general statutory minimum wage of 12.82 euros gross per hour applies to other industries.
The FKS regularly conducts such inspections to reduce black work and illegal employment. In this operation, 73 employees from the Main Customs Office Landshut interviewed over 260 employees and initiated seven criminal proceedings on site for violations of the Residence Act. Follow-up investigations are ongoing in 20 cases, comparing collected data with companies' wage and financial accounting and checking further business records.
The Zollinfotag, a career event of the Main Customs Office Landshut, will take place on September 20, 2025, at the service center in Plattling. Interested parties can register at [email protected]. The FKS's commitment to combating black work and illegal employment continues, with further inspections and investigations planned.
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