Germany's Nationwide Hotel Inspection Uncovers Wage Theft and Benefit Fraud
Customs authorities across Germany conducted a nationwide inspection in the hotel and catering industry on September 19, 2025. The operation, led by the Financial Control Black Work (FKS), aimed to combat black work, secure social security systems, and ensure compliance with minimum wage laws.
A total of 51 FKS employees, along with police, tax office, and trade supervision office personnel, questioned 133 individuals about their employment relationships. Further investigations are ongoing in some cases. The inspection targeted illegal employment, sham self-employment, and benefit fraud.
Violations detected included 10 suspected cases of underpayment of the minimum wage (€12.82 gross per hour), 7 cases of wage withholding, 14 cases of illegal employment of foreigners, and 9 cases of benefit fraud. The hotel and catering industry is particularly affected by black work, with many employees in marginal employment and difficulty finding specialist staff.
Christoph Fromm, from the Press Office of the Hauptzollamt Braunschweig, confirmed the operation and its findings.
The nationwide inspection resulted in the detection of various labour and social security violations in the hotel and catering industry. The Main Customs Office of Braunschweig encourages anyone with information about black work to contact Christoph Fromm in the Communication Department.
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