Klingbeil Proposes Stricter Laws Following Construction Raids

In a recent nationwide operation targeting construction sites, German customs officials uncovered numerous violations related to minimum wage and illegal employment practices. Over 2,800 customs officers from various regional offices conducted inspections on Monday, engaging with more than 8,000 construction workers and employees across major cities including Berlin, Munich, and Cologne. Preliminary results from the Federal Customs Directorate revealed that officials initiated approximately 300 criminal investigations and 400 administrative offense proceedings on-site, alongside scrutinizing business documentation.

Many of the cases involved construction workers lacking the necessary residency permits, indicating that they were not legally permitted to work on these sites. Following the inspections, customs authorities identified an additional 1,800 violations, highlighting ongoing challenges in enforcing labor laws. In 260 instances, officials reported cases involving the evasion of social security contributions, as well as failure to pay even the minimum wage. A customs spokesperson noted that some workers at a site in Bornheim, near Cologne, were allegedly compensated with only a few euros.

In response to these findings, Federal Minister of Finance, Lars Klingbeil, announced intentions to enhance legal measures against black market employment and illegal labor practices in the construction sector. Klingbeil emphasized a commitment to intensifying efforts against those who exploit the system for personal gain, stating that individuals engaging in or facilitating illegal work evade tax obligations and social contributions.

To bolster these efforts, Klingbeil plans to introduce legislative amendments aimed at strengthening the regulatory framework governing the battle against black market labor and illegal employment. He expressed his intent to present a draft law before the upcoming summer recess, signaling a proactive approach to combatting these issues effectively.