Saxony-Anhalt's business inspections plummet as low wages spark debate
Minimum Wage Compliance in Saxony-Anhalt Resembles a Lottery—for Employers
New federal government data reveals a dramatic decline in enforcement by customs authorities, while tens of thousands of workers in the state earn far less than experts consider necessary for a "decent standard of living."
Statistical Risk: Inspections Only in the Next Century
Figures released in response to a parliamentary inquiry by the Left Party paint a bleak picture of labor protections in Saxony-Anhalt. While the number of employer audits by the Financial Control of Illegal Employment (FKS) unit edged up slightly to 691 in 2025 (from 677 in 2024), this represents a steep drop compared to 2022, when 1,598 businesses were inspected. Current enforcement levels now stand at just 42.4% of what they were three years ago.
The practical consequences are staggering: statistically, a business in Saxony-Anhalt can expect a customs inspection once every 90 years. The situation is even more extreme in agriculture, where only nine of 2,105 farms were checked in 2025—meaning a farm would, on average, face an inspection just once every 234 years.
Left Party MP David Schliesing sharply criticizes this as "enforcement blindness" caused by severe staffing shortages. "Wage theft isn't a minor offense—it's hard-core economic crime," Schliesing asserts.
Low-Wage Sector: One in Four Earns Less Than €15 an Hour
Beyond weak oversight, wage levels themselves are a powder keg. Since early 2026, the statutory minimum wage has been €13.90, with a planned increase to €14.60 in 2027. Yet for many in Saxony-Anhalt, this falls far short.
Current data shows 195,000 people in the state—23.3% of all employees—earn less than €15 per hour. The situation is particularly dire in non-unionized workplaces, where 35% of staff receive under €15.
Political Demands and Criticism
Schliesing accuses the federal government of issuing a "certificate of poverty," noting that the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD had originally aimed for a €15 minimum wage by 2026. He calls for dedicated prosecutors to crack down on wage violations and for customs to receive urgent staffing reinforcements.
As the number of businesses in Saxony-Anhalt continues to decline—from 65,738 in 2022 to 62,211 in 2025—the pressure on remaining workers intensifies. In a state with one of Germany's highest concentrations of low-wage jobs, the debate over fair pay and effective enforcement is set to gain further momentum ahead of the planned 2027 wage hike.
