Black Work Inspections in Thuringia and Saxony Yield 55.8 Years in Prison and €7.8M in Fines
The Financial Control of Black Work (FKS) at the Main Customs Office Erfurt has concluded its 2022 inspections, uncovering significant illegal activities. The operation, spanning Thuringia and South West Saxony, resulted in substantial fines and imprisonment.
FKS inspected 2,069 employers, leading to around 3,800 criminal proceedings and over 1,900 administrative fine proceedings. These involved black work, illegal employment, and social security fraud. The investigations resulted in imprisonment sentences totaling 55.8 years and fines amounting to 1.5 million euros, with the Main Customs Office Erfurt imposing fines of 7.8 million euros.
The inspections were comprehensive, checking employee registration, social benefits, work permits, minimum wage compliance, and working conditions. The total uncovered damage was 36.8 million euros, with 26.5 million euros in Thuringia and 10.3 million euros in South West Saxony. This damage was calculated from unpaid or underpaid social security contributions, benefits received unlawfully, and unpaid or underpaid contributions to professional associations.
The FKS operates from locations in Erfurt, Gera, Jena, Nordhausen, Suhl, Annaberg-Buchholz, Chemnitz, Plauen, and Zwickau. The 2022 inspections highlight the unit's commitment to combating illegal employment and fraud, resulting in significant legal consequences and financial recovery.
