economy
February 15, 2026
Every fourth employer hides workers: mass inspections revealed 'undeclared work' in Germany
Thousands of employers in Germany refused to pay the minimum wage during 2025, the unit for financial control of undeclared work announced after inspecting about 25,000 employers, finding that almost every fourth employer did not register workers.
TL;DR
- Thousands of employers in Germany violated minimum wage laws in 2025.
- Inspections of nearly 25,000 employers revealed that almost one in four did not register their workers.
- The hospitality sector showed particularly high rates of minimum wage violations.
- Over 500 proceedings were initiated against freight forwarding companies, construction firms, and hairdressing/cosmetic salons.
- Other sectors with violations included taxi services, beverage stores, and security services.
- The gross monthly minimum wage in Germany for full-time employment was 2,161 euros in 2025.
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