Icon: enlarge
Parcel deliverer (symbol image)
Photo: SVEN SIMON / imago images
Customs are taking action against undeclared work in the parcel industry: During a nationwide inspection last week, 2,200 customs officers had already withdrawn from all 41 main customs offices in Germany - whether in Munich, Osnabrück, Koblenz, Dortmund, Duisburg or Magdeburg, as the General Customs Directorate in Cologne announced .
The customs officers checked around 8,000 couriers and parcel deliverers to see whether, for example, the minimum wage of 9.35 euros per hour was being paid and whether social security contributions were being paid.
They also examined business documents in 250 cases.
As a result, there have been 16 criminal proceedings for fraud, illegal residence and forgery of documents so far.
In addition, 36 administrative offense proceedings were initiated.
In Cologne, the customs officers arrested a 28-year-old Tajik who tried to identify himself with a forged Romanian passport.
Criminal proceedings were initiated against three Ukrainians in Dortmund on suspicion of illegal residence.
The evaluation of the findings is still ongoing.
In the courier, express and parcel industries, numerous subcontractors work on behalf of large corporations.
Trade unionists have long criticized the fact that employment relationships are often opaque.
The legal situation has recently been tightened to prevent illegal employment.
Icon: The mirror
caw / dpa