Germany's Customs Conduct Massive Hotel Industry Inspection, Uncovering 12 Illegal Workers
On Friday, September 19, 2025, the Financial Control Schwarzarbeit of the Customs (FKS) conducted a major operation in the hotel and catering industry across Germany. The inspections involved multiple customs offices, including Krefeld, Mönchengladbach, Stralsund, Magdeburg, and Erfurt, aiming to combat black work and ensure compliance with minimum wage laws and social security obligations.
The operation involved around 60 employees from the Krefeld Customs Office, inspecting a total of 156 employees across various establishments. The FKS carries out both random and full inspections, with increased personnel in particularly affected branches. The inspections targeted the hotel and catering industry, one of the largest and most employment-intensive sectors, where black work is a significant concern.
The inspections focused on ensuring that employers adhered to the general minimum wage in Germany, which is 12.82 euros per hour, effective since January 1, 2025. They also aimed to uncover illegal presence of workers in the country, with 12 such cases discovered during the inspections. The customs office was supported by local authorities and foreign offices in conducting the inspections.
The FKS will follow up with subsequent inspections to compare on-site data with wage and financial records of the companies and check further business documents. Customs plays a crucial role in securing social systems and state revenues by maintaining fair working conditions and competitive business environments through its inspection and investigation procedures.
