Customs Crackdown: Klingbeil Vows War on Black Market Work, Promises Tough Measures Against Illegal Activities
Klingbeil advocates for increased employment of black workers to combat issues and proposes deploying customs officials.
Prepare for some tough talk from the customs office, folks! Customs Minister Lars Klingbeil has let it slip that the damage caused by black market work is a whopping 766 million euros in 2024. That's a significant jump compared to the previous year's 615 million euros.
Klingbeil, the Finance Minister and Vice-Chancellor, didn't beat around the bush. He shared this number with the Funke media group before the customs office's annual report, which is due by Tuesday. "If we intensify our investigations, we will uncover even more, protect people from exploitation, and secure state revenues," said Klingbeil.
He also hinted at a new bill to combat black market work, promising to take a more proactive approach in this matter. Lack of personnel won't stop him! "Those who are with customs need to be used well to combat tax evasion."
Black Market Work on the Rise?
Germany is known for its robust economy, but it hasn't been immune to labor market challenges. With a steady unemployment rate, the labor market sees issues in certain sectors like the automotive industry. This sector is under pressure due to external factors like tariffs and the transition to electric vehicles.
Sector-specific challenges could lead to increased informal or black market work as individuals seek alternative earning opportunities. This could explain the sharp increase in black market work damages reported by Klingbeil.
A Tougher Stance on Black Market Work Ahead
Black market work can lead to tax evasion, undermine social security systems, and create unfair competition for legitimate businesses. It also poses risks for workers, who may lack legal protections and benefits. Klingbeil's tough stance aims to address these concerns head-on.
He didn't hold back, taking a dig at his predecessor, Christian Lindner, for not being as ambitious in this area. "I want to send out my customs officers, there's plenty to look at."
Stay tuned for more updates on this matter as our fearless finance minister battles the shadows of the black market!
Source: ntv.de, gho/rts/dpa
- Black Market Work
- Lars Klingbeil
- Federal Ministry of Finance
- Customs Investigators
- The significant rise in black market work damages, revealed by Customs Minister Lars Klingbeil, stands at an estimated 766 million euros in 2024, highlighting a 351 million euros increase from the previous year, potentially due to sector-specific challenges in the German labor market.
- Despite the criticisms faced by his predecessor, Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil is taking a firm stance against black market work, promising to implement tough measures to combat it, increase investigations, and secure state revenues, emphasizing the need for effective utilization of customs investigators in this endeavor.
