EU's Largest Cross-Border Inspection Uncovers Wage Violations
On October 17, 2024, the Main Customs Office Landshut led a massive cross-border inspection, dubbed the largest in the EU. The operation, coordinated by the European Labour Authority (ELA), involved 21 member states and focused on minimum wage compliance.
Nationwide, around 7,700 employees were questioned, and over 800 business records were inspected. The operation resulted in 260 criminal proceedings and more than 15 administrative offense proceedings initiated on-site. The Main Customs Office Landshut alone deployed 77 officers, contributing to the total of over 3,300 involved nationwide.
The inspection was observed by delegations from 20 EU member states, including two labor market inspectresses from Slovenia and an ELA representative. Initial evaluations revealed potential violations in 45 cases, which will be further investigated by the Financial Control Schwarzarbeit (FKS) of the Main Customs Office Landshut.
The minimum wage in Germany is set to increase to 12.82 euros gross per hour from January 1, 2025, following a series of increases since 2015. The recent inspection operation underscores the commitment to enforcing minimum wage laws and protecting workers' rights across the EU.
