A transport company from the area of Hof in Bavaria has been heavily fined for its illegal employment of drivers. The German carrier violated multiple social regulations and was severely punished. However, this did not teach the operator a lesson as they went on to commit further offences.
The department for the financial control of undeclared work at Regensburg’s Main Customs Office received several reports concerning a transport company from Hof. During the investigation it emerged that the carrier had failed to remunerate its drivers in accordance with the German Minimum Wage Act (MiLoG), underpaying them by a total of €64,000.
In addition, further investigation by customs officers revealed that in 2017 and 2018, the company either submitted false declarations or did not submit any declarations to the social security office. This behaviour saved the company around €28,000 in contributions.
The Main Customs Office in Regensburg fined the company roughly €204,000 for failing to meet the minimum wage requirements. Meanwhile, the Hof District Court ordered the payment of a fine of €4,000 for evading social security contributions.
However, the fines imposed did not make much of an impression on the company.
When customs officials wanted to re-inspect the company for compliance with employment legislation shortly after the judgment, the carrier refused to cooperate. As the authority explains in its official statement, there was a good reason for this.
Once again, drivers were not correctly registered with the social security office. This offence cost the carrier a further €1,500. In addition, the operator must pay a fine of €1,500 for failing to appear for the inspection.
Photo credit @ Pixabay