Criminality - Fine for the boss who paid employees too little
Over 300,000 Euro must be paid by the manager of a car dealership who gave less money to employees than legally allowed. The employer in the Steinburg district was found by the Itzehoe Customs Office to have violated the minimum wage and not fully paid social insurance contributions.
Employees had reported to the Itzehoe Prosecutor's Office and the Customs Office that the employer only paid six Euros per hour. The minimum wage is 12.41 Euros per hour. The manager is said to have continued not to pay the minimum wage despite complaints from employees.
Investigations by the Customs Office confirmed the allegations. "Such actions indicate the obvious low valuation of the employer for the performances of their own employees, which they provide day after day for the company," said a spokesperson for the Customs Office.
The Customs Office imposed fines totaling around 265,000 Euros for the minimum wage violation. The Amtsgericht imposed a fine of around 45,000 Euros due to the incomplete payment of social insurance contributions. The investigative proceedings have been legally concluded.
- The violation of the minimum wage at the car dealership in the District Steinburg was also reported to the Public Prosecutor's Office in Itzehoe.
- In addition to the fines imposed by the Customs Office, the manager of the dealership may also face criminal charges for persisting in paying less than the minimum wage, as reported by employees.
- The Main Customs Office in Schleswig-Holstein, where Itzehoe is located, has stressed the importance of adhering to labor laws, including the minimum wage, to maintain a fair labor market.
- The Employer-Employee Committee in the District Steinburg has expressed concern over the incident, urging all employers to uphold their legal obligations towards their employees to prevent such incidents in the future.
