Financial Control Black Work Brandenburg: 2023 Sees Record Fines, Imprisonment in Crackdown on Illegal Employment
The Financial Control Black Work, operating in several districts of Brandenburg and the city of Potsdam, has shown significant activity in 2023. It initiated 1,586 criminal proceedings and 744 administrative offence proceedings, targeting mainly the construction industry, hotels and restaurants, and the building cleaning industry due to black work risks.
In 2023, the unit checked 595 employers and 6,162 people, a slight decrease from the previous year's 939 employers and 6,912 people. The checks were not limited to specific regions; regular and targeted controls took place in Potsdam, Teltow, Falkensee, Groß Kreutz, and other areas, including nail studios, gastronomy, construction sites, and hospitality sectors.
The investigations led to courts imposing fines of 377,741 euros and imprisonment of 24 months. The damage sum, totalling over 20 million euros, includes unpaid social security contributions, unpaid contributions to professional associations, improperly received social benefits, and wage discrepancies. Additionally, warning fines, fines, and seizure orders totalling 530,370 euros were imposed.
The Financial Control Black Work's efforts in 2023 resulted in a significant increase in the discovered damage sum, highlighting the importance of its work in combating illegal employment and related fraud. The unit's extensive checks and targeted approach have led to substantial fines and imprisonment, indicating a strong commitment to enforcing labour laws and protecting workers' rights.
