Blackwork work in construction: 297 controls and strong attempts to escape!

Blackwork work in construction: 297 controls and strong attempts to escape!

Wittenberg, Deutschland - in Saxony-Anhalt took place on June 23, 2025, a large-scale control to combat undeclared work. Customs inspected a total of 18 construction sites in several cities, including Dessau-Roßlau, Wittenberg, Halle and Merseburg. During these controls, numerous violations were found that led to the initiation of 15 criminal and 14 administrative offense proceedings. Behind these checks there was a nationwide focus test in the construction industry, which had already started on June 16. 81 emergency services of financial control (FKS) were active throughout the state. Stern worked.

The challenges were not to be underestimated. During the controls, several employees tried to escape the official by hiding - some even in the basement of a construction site in Merseburg. However, all of these attempts to escape were successfully thwarted. Part of these checks aims to combat illegal employment and exploitation of workers in the construction industry. As the Presseportal are already intended for further investigations, 9 of which are related to the statutory minimum wage.

targeted investigation in Saxony-Anhalt

Overall, the controls in the Halle (Saale) and Merseburg regions were classified as particularly problematic, since most of the attempts to escape were observed here. The 29 procedures determined often refer to the employment relationship of employees without the necessary residence permit and to the unauthorized exercise of work. The discovery that 22 of the investigation is directly connected to construction projects in Halle and Merseburg is particularly dramatic.

Combating undeclared work is not just a local affair - it also has nationwide dimensions. In 2024, according to the Federal Ministry of Finance withdrawn around 766 million euros by undeclared work. A total of 25,000 employer exams were carried out, which shows how serious the situation in many economic sectors is, especially where many working hours are incurred.

The government already expanded the testing and investigative powers of the FKS in 2019 in order to counteract the high risk of undeclared work. The review of social security reporting obligations, the control of social benefits and compliance with working conditions are only a few of the aspects that are focused on. With a minimum wage of 12.82 euros gross per hour, which has been in effect since January 1, 2025, there are also clear requirements that employers have to orientate.

This case from Saxony-Anhalt once again illustrates that the efforts to combat the undeclared work are of central importance to ensure fair working conditions and the protection of employee rights. It remains to be seen how the subsequent investigation assume and what other measures are necessary to act against this widespread problem.