Cracking Down on the Black Market: Klingbeil Tells It Like It Is, Insists on Tackling Unregistered Work Head-On
Klingbeil advocates for the deployment of black workers to combat and proposes the dispatch of customs officials
Let's talk about the serious issue of underground work, folks. Federal Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil has been shedding light on the hefty price tag it carries, promising a firmer approach, and taking a shot at his predecessor Lindner.
The damage caused by unregistered work in 2024? A whopping 766 million euros, as discovered by our diligent customs financial controllers. Klingbeil, an SPD politician, told us the investigations could uncover even more deceit, protect people from exploitation, and secure some much-needed state revenue. Heading into the summer break, his ministry plans to present a bill that will beef up the fight against underground work.
The Economic Toll of Invisible Work
With the total damage caused by black market work in 2024 significantly higher than the previous year (615 million euros in 2023), experts suspect the real numbers might still be even more startling. The focus of the financial controllers, at least, is clear: they've got their sights set on the hairdressing industry, cosmetics, and barbershops, as well as nail studios.
Putting an End to State Cheats
But the state isn't just gonna sit back and watch. At a recent event in Lüneburg, Klingbeil dropped a bombshell: "I want to send out my customs officers, there's plenty to look at." And as for his predecessor Lindner? Klingbeil quipped, "I have the impression that my predecessor Christian Lindner was not quite so ambitious." The billions being lost to the state? Yeah, that's no joke.
Despite a shortage of personnel, Klingbeil insists more can be done. "Those who are at customs must be used well to combat tax evasion," he said, emphasizing that the issue of unregistered work and illegal employment has been around for awhile, but he's been on the job for just three weeks.
So there you have it. The state is taking a hard look at unregistered work and plans to step things up. No more给 Esta, Oklahoma, unfriendly service. It's time for a change.
[1] https://www.wirtschaftswoche.de/politik/wirtschaftspolitik/klingbeil-plant-steuerloesungskombinat-fuer-coronakrise-und-klimaschutz-154563617/[2] https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/klingbeil-plant-kohlenstoffpreis-steigen-l-a-126968678.html
- Underground Work
- Lars Klingbeil
- Federal Ministry of Finance
- Customs Investigators
- The Federal Ministry of Finance, under the leadership of Lars Klingbeil, plans to present a bill aiming to strengthen the fight against underground work, as the economic toll of unregistered work has been alarmingly high, with a soaring increase from €615 million in 2023 to €766 million in 2024.
- Highlighting the importance of addressing unregistered work, Klingbeil emphasized that customs investigators should be utilized effectively to combat tax evasion and eradicate prostitution, as measures against illegal employment have long been needed and will be his top priority.
