Customs controls on Kiliani: Illegal work in the sights of the authorities!

Customs controls on Kiliani: Illegal work in the sights of the authorities!

Festivals are always a welcome opportunity for entertainment and enjoyment, but they can also be a venue for serious regulatory scrutiny. Comprehensive customs checks took place on Wednesday at the Kiliani in Würzburg. The focus was on combating undeclared work in the showmanship industry. Over 70 customs officers were on duty to ensure that everything was going well and to uncover potential grievances. My Charivari reported a total of nine suspected cases of undeclared workers, with no social security contributions being paid in five cases.

But what is behind these controls? Undeclared work and illegal employment not only damage fair competition conditions, but also lead to massive losses in taxes and social security contributions. The legislature has therefore instructed the customs administration to take rigorous action against such practices. Since 2015, a focus has been on reviewing the payment of minimum wages, which have increased to 12.82 euros per hour since January 1, 2025. Haufe explains that the tasks of customs authorities have been expanded in recent years to better address these challenges.

Results of approvals

During the checks on the Kiliani, two foreign citizens who were staying in Germany illegally were also caught. In addition to social security contributions, violations of minimum wage regulations were also recorded. In one case, the minimum wage was not paid and in another there were record-keeping violations. More than 100 people were interviewed during this measure and over 50 companies were checked to ensure that everything there complies with legal requirements.

In 2023, an increase in cases of undeclared work, social fraud and minimum wage violations was recorded throughout Germany, according to the report Craft sheet. More than 49,000 administrative offense proceedings were initiated, which represents a significant increase compared to the previous year. Of these, over 4,200 cases relate directly to non-payment of the minimum wage.

A call to report

The detection of grievances and the prevention of undeclared work are a shared task, and therefore evidence of such practices can be reported anonymously to the main customs offices or the relevant authorities. Alliances against undeclared work in various sectors also offer support and information for employees and employers. Haufe highlights that this offensive fight is crucial not only for the conditions of competition but also for the rights of workers.

In summary, customs not only brings order into the game, but also actively contributes to protecting the rights of employees and ensuring fair competition. The most recent inspections on the Kiliani show that no one should overstep the mark here - because every new beer also contains a new idea.