In 27 cases, violations of the statutory wage agreement in the cleaning industry and of immigration law provisions were investigated
On September 11, 2024, 54 customs officers from the Financial Control of Illegal Work (FKS) of the Frankfurt am Main Main Customs Office carried out a local, suspicion-independent, focused audit, in particular on compliance with social security obligations and compliance with the minimum wage in the cleaning industry. In addition, these audits served to uncover illegal employment and benefit fraud.
Twelve cleaning companies in nine hotels were inspected and 86 employees were questioned on site about their employment. In 27 cases, there were indications of violations of the statutory wage agreement in the cleaning industry and of immigration regulations. Three employees were in Germany without the appropriate residence permit and were provisionally arrested. Investigations have been initiated against the three women.
“The cleaning industry often employs cleaners from Eastern Europe who are recruited abroad through social networks and sent to Germany with the promise of good earning opportunities. These workers often do not have proper social insurance and do not have the required residence permit,” says Christine Straß, press spokesperson at the Frankfurt am Main main customs office. “In addition, they are usually only paid a fraction of the legally stipulated wage.”
The audits carried out yesterday will be followed by follow-up investigations in which the employee data collected on site will be compared with the companies’ payroll and financial accounting records and other business documents will be examined.
Since January 1, 2024, the nationwide industry-specific minimum wage for employees in the building cleaning industry has been in effect, amounting to EUR 13.50 per hour in wage group 1 (e.g. hotel room cleaning) and EUR 16.70 per hour in wage group 6 (e.g. external cleaning of buildings).
During the FKS audits, violations of the minimum wage conditions are regularly identified using various forms of manipulation or commission. In addition, the misuse of identification documents has been increasingly identified during audits by the FKS Frankfurt am Main. Employees in the cleaning industry are required to carry and present their identification documents.
The FKS regularly carries out targeted audits in many sectors throughout the year, both nationally, regionally and locally. This is an important instrument for reducing social acceptance of undeclared work and illegal employment.
