Braunschweig's crackdown on undeclared work recovers €4.6M in lost social security funds
The Financial Control Unit for Undeclared Work (FKS) at Braunschweig's Main Customs Office has released its 2025 enforcement figures. Last year, the unit carried out 9,277 inspections across 606 employers, uncovering widespread violations. The crackdown resulted in fines, custodial sentences, and millions recovered for social security funds.
In 2025, the FKS launched 4,091 criminal and administrative proceedings. Of these, 3,686 cases were resolved, revealing financial losses to social security funds amounting to €4,633,508. The unit's risk-based strategy—focusing on high-risk businesses—appears to be working, as the number of both initiated and concluded cases continues to rise.
The FKS operates with 224 staff, divided between Section E (Audits and Investigations) and Specialized Unit 1 of Section F (Penalties). Their efforts led to €732,230 in fines and 246 months of custodial sentences handed down by courts. When combined with warning penalties and confiscation orders, the total financial sanctions reached €1,225,298.
Detailed breakdowns of the annual results, including sector-specific findings, are available in the published appendix.
The FKS's 2025 operations highlight a sharp focus on undeclared work and social security fraud. With millions recovered and hundreds of cases processed, the unit's enforcement actions have had a measurable impact. The full report provides further insights into the scale and nature of the violations uncovered.
