Minimum wage: Customs uncovers thousands of violations - Germany's Minimum Wage Crisis: 6,000 Employers Caught Underpaying Workers
Thousands of employers across Germany are breaking minimum wage laws, leaving millions of workers potentially underpaid. Inspections in 2025 uncovered over 6,000 suspected violations, with sectors like hospitality, freight transport, and construction among the worst offenders.
The statutory minimum wage in Germany currently stands at €13.90 per hour. Yet, despite this, up to 2.5 million employees may still be receiving less than they are legally entitled to. The latest increase on January 1, 2025, impacted 4.8 million jobs, but compliance remains a major issue.
Inspections carried out this year identified 6,121 cases of suspected breaches. On average, one in four checks revealed a violation. The most common offences included failing to record working hours or properly verify them. Certain industries showed particularly high numbers of violations. Nearly 2,500 cases were found in hospitality and hotels alone. Over 500 more were recorded in freight transport, construction firms, and hair and beauty salons. In response, Cem Ince, a lawmaker from the Left Party, has called for a significant increase in inspections. He argues that stronger enforcement is needed to ensure workers receive the wages they are owed.
The scale of non-compliance suggests many employees continue to miss out on fair pay. With inspections already revealing widespread issues, further action may be required to close the gap between the law and workplace reality. The findings highlight ongoing challenges in enforcing minimum wage protections across key industries.
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