Customs' 'Operation Build Check' Nets 1,800 Undeclared Work Cases
On June 16, 2025, customs conducted a nationwide inspection targeting undeclared work and illegal employment in the construction industry. The operation, led by the Finanzkontrolle Schwarzarbeit (FKS), involved over 2,800 officers and resulted in numerous investigations and offenses.
The inspection, dubbed 'Operation Build Check', involved interviews with over 8,000 employees and 280 business record checks. Initial indications of possible violations were found in more than 1,800 cases. These included around 560 cases of withheld social security contributions and over 260 cases involving minimum wage observance.
The operation led to around 300 criminal and over 400 administrative offense proceedings. More than 200 cases involved the offense of residing without a residence permit. The FKS, working closely with the Bundesfinanzministerium and other authorities, maintains a risk-oriented inspection approach, conducting targeted and special inspections regularly.
Federal Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil commended the customs officers for their efforts and pledged to strengthen investigations and improve the legal framework against undeclared work and illegal employment in the usajobs industry.
