Customs Raid Aachen Hotels: 8 Offence Proceedings, 4 Criminal Cases Over Wage Theft
Last Friday, the hotel and gastronomy industry in the Aachen, Düren, and Euskirchen region faced unannounced inspections. The Financial Control Schwarzarbeit of the Customs (FKS) from the Main Customs Office Aachen carried out these checks to ensure compliance with legal minimum wage and social security obligations. The inspections also targeted illegal employment of foreigners, false receipt of social benefits, and illegal withholding of wages.
The FKS conducted extensive follow-up checks, comparing employee data with company payroll and financial records. They initiated eight administrative offence proceedings, including violations of identity document and immediate notification obligations. In four cases, criminal proceedings were started on-site for suspected withholding and misappropriation of wages, as well as illegal employment of foreigners.
The inspections focused on ensuring businesses adhered to the general minimum wage of €12.82 per hour, effective since January 1, 2025. The Customs' inspections are risk-oriented, ranging from random to full inspections of all employees, and include focus inspections in particularly affected sectors like the hotel and catering industry due to its size and employment intensity.
The FKS' unannounced inspections resulted in eight business records checks and several offence proceedings. The Customs' commitment to combating Schwarzarbeit in the hotel and catering industry highlights the importance of ensuring fair wages and social security for all employees.
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