Customs raid on the sausage market: showmen under pressure!

Customs raid on the sausage market: showmen under pressure!

On Tuesday, September 10, 2025, there was a lot of excitement on the Wurstmarktplatz when a large contingent of customs officers examined the showmen. The 120 emergency services from the Saarbrücken main customs office checked for up to three hours to ensure that everything was going well. The main focus was on the proper registration of employees and their identification documents. These types of controls are not just limited to folk festivals, but are part of a comprehensive strategy to combat undeclared work and ensure fair working conditions

As [bundesfinanzministerium.de](https://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/Content/DE/Standardartikel/Themen/ Zoll/Gerechtigkeit-faire-Arbeit/illegal-ist-unsocial.html) reports, the damage caused by illegal employment amounted to around 766 million euros in 2024. The more than 25,000 employer audits demonstrate the seriousness with which authorities take action against these practices. Around 97,000 criminal investigations were initiated and more than 1,200 years' imprisonment were imposed. A crucial instrument for these measures is the Act to Combat Undeclared Employment, which gives the customs authorities extensive inspection rights.

Customs control mechanisms

The customs controls are varied. In addition to the general controls at events such as the sausage market, the authorities' measures also include financial audits, routine checks and targeted actions. As wirtschaftsboten.de explains, checking compliance with minimum wage regulations and combating undeclared work are at the top of the agenda. These comprehensive controls are designed to ensure correct tax payments and to comply with foreign trade regulations.

Companies are obliged to familiarize themselves with the requirements of customs authorities. This also means that you have to have all relevant documents ready - from invoices to customs declarations to shipping documents. In the event of irregularities, there is a risk not only of additional financial payments, but also of fines and criminal investigation consequences. The authorities have a lot of patience and unannounced checks are not uncommon.

As was shown at the Wurstmarktplatz, the focus of the customs audit is not only on economic efficiency, but also on fairness in the labor market. With the increasing minimum wage of 12.82 euros gross per hour from January 1, 2025, it is expected that awareness of fair working conditions will also grow. Employers are obliged to comply with these requirements and employ their employees correctly.

In summary, it can be said that customs controls are an important part of the legal framework in Germany. The authorities are working hard to ensure fair working conditions for everyone involved and that undeclared work, which is increasing in various sectors, has no place in our economy. It remains to be seen how developments will continue in the future, but as the sausage market shows, the belt matters are indeed in the best of hands.{