Customs Office Münster in Münster issues alert to businesses about the risk of misusing employee identity documents for unauthorized purposes
The Main Customs Office Münster has issued a warning about a growing concern in the city – the issue of employees using borrowed identification documents to work illegally in Germany. In a targeted inspection on a construction site, the Finanzkontrolle Schwarzarbeit (FKS) of the Hauptzollamt Potsdam reported an increase in the use of stolen or borrowed identity documents to disguise illegal workers.
Over the past twelve months, the Main Customs Office Münster has encountered thirteen such cases. If an employer is found guilty of complicity in illegal residence, significant fines apply.
Theresa Dropmann, head of the financial control unit for illegal employment at the Main Customs Office Münster, stated that this is a new development, as these individuals are increasingly using real ID documents that do not belong to them.
To avoid falling foul of the law, employers are advised to carefully check the ID documents of their employees in person before hiring. Companies should also make copies of their employees' IDs and take photos for verification purposes. If an employer suspects illegal employment, they should report it to the authorities.
Companies whose employees do not work on-site should randomly check the workplace to ensure the person working is the one hired. If the applicant presents a passport that does not match their appearance, it is suspicious. The data and passport photo should be thoroughly compared with the applicant.
A copy of the ID is not sufficient due to the lack of security features. The Main Customs Office Münster is responsible for financial control and combating illegal employment. If the employer neither acts intentionally nor negligently, the proceeding is usually dropped.
For further questions, contact Nicole Thomsen at the Main Customs Office Münster: 0251 / 4814 - 1309, [email protected], or visit www.zoll.de.
A document titled "2025_04_29_pm_Zoll-geliehene_Ausweise.pdf" (PDF - 307 kB) is related to this issue, but the article does not provide specific details about its content.
Companies should be aware of the possibility of someone coming to a job interview but having someone else do the work later. This is a serious offence and can lead to criminal proceedings for the employer, the employee, and the person who lent their ID.
The Main Customs Office Münster urges all employers to take these warnings seriously and to ensure they are complying with all employment laws to maintain a fair and legal working environment.
