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The German customs authority’s unit for checks on illegal work conducted a comprehensive inspection in the courier, express and parcel industry on 6 May 2026. The move saw more than 2,900 employees from all of the country’s main customs offices deployed. The aim was to identify and combat illegal employment and undeclared work.
As part of the inspection, customs officers interviewed more than 7,000 individuals regarding their employment status. Additionally, over 500 business document inspections were carried out, focusing on all activities in the industry, including collection, transportation, transhipment and delivery of shipments. The customs officers initiated more than 50 criminal proceedings and around 330 administrative offense proceedings. In 32 cases, employees without residence permits were identified, leading to the initiation of corresponding proceedings against the employers.
Results of the inspections
Furthermore, 140 violations of the obligation to carry identification documents and 90 violations of the obligation for immediate reporting were identified. In more than 1,700 cases, indications arose from the interviews that necessitated further inspections. Approximately 530 cases involved the verification of compliance with minimum wage regulations, while 425 cases provided evidence of the withholding and misappropriation of social security contributions.
The customs authorities emphasised the fact that combating illegal employment and undeclared work is crucial for securing social systems and state revenues. Through extensive inspection and investigation procedures, fair working and competitive conditions are to be established. The authority regularly conducts nationwide focus and special inspections based on a risk-oriented inspection approach. These coordinated inspections are an important tool to reduce social acceptance of illegal employment and undeclared work.
In the freight forwarding, transport and logistics industry, there is both an obligation for employees to carry their identity card or an equivalent identification document and an obligation for employers to register employees with social security at the latest upon commencement of work.
