Snack Bar Owner Fined €44,000 for Exploiting Workers Below Minimum Wage
A snack bar owner in Kelsterbach has been fined nearly €44,000 for paying workers below minimum wage and breaking employment laws. The 42-year-old also faced a separate penalty order for withholding wages and aiding illegal residence. Authorities uncovered severe labour violations during their investigation.
The case began when inspectors found three Vietnamese employees working at the snack bar without valid passports or residence permits. They were working up to 12 hours a day, six days a week, and living in rooms next to the restaurant. Their wages were as low as €6.40 per hour—far below the legal minimum wage.
Over six months, the owner withheld nearly €12,400 in unpaid wages. He also failed to register the workers for social insurance or submit mandatory notifications to authorities. The Darmstadt Public Prosecutor's Office later issued a penalty order against him, sentencing him to 90 daily rates of €40 each for wage embezzlement and aiding illegal residence.
This case is part of a wider crackdown on wage violations. Between 2023 and 2025, customs authorities uncovered over 12,000 cases of underpayment across Germany. Around 2,500 of these were made public in official reports, with annual figures ranging from 3,700 to 4,200 cases per year.
The €44,000 fine is now legally binding, following administrative proceedings against the business owner. The employees involved were working under exploitative conditions, without proper documentation or fair pay. Customs officials continue to monitor wage compliance as part of ongoing enforcement efforts.
