With your help we uncover minimum wage fraud!

Report minimum wage fraud now

Are you being paid the minimum wage, but something feels off about your pay? According to the German Institute for Economic Research, over 2.4 million employees in Germany are being cheated out of the minimum wage. Minimum wage fraud is not a petty offence, but rather a form of economic crime. It cannot be tolerated.

We won’t accept that anymore!

On this website you can find out everything about minimum wage fraud and how to recognize it. Please send us information using our form. We will forward your information anonymously to customs in Germany. You will also find contact points and advice services.

What is the minimum wage?

What is the minimum wage?

The minimum wage is an hourly rate that you must be paid, even if you have not been trained for the job you are doing. It is not uncommon for companies to attempt to circumvent the minimum wage. Since 1 January, the minimum hourly wage has been 12.41 euros. From 2025 it is to be increased to 12.82 euros. If you receive a lower hourly wage for your work, you are being cheated out of the minimum wage.

Example: You work 40 hours a week. You should thus receive on average approximately 2151 euros gross.

Unfortunately, there are exceptions.
There is no minimum wage for:

● People with disabilities who work in workshops
● Employees under 18 years of age
● Trainees and interns (under three months)
● Participants in a job promotion measure
● Long-term unemployed people in the first six months
● Self-employed and freelancers
● Working in the voluntary social year
● Voluntary work

Violations to avoid the minimum wage

Minimum wage fraud, however, could also appear as follows:

  • Performance targets that are too high for a period of time that is too short
  • Docking of wages for food, equipment or “poor” work
  • Working times are not recorded in full
  • Working without a contract (clandestine work) or pseudo self-employment
  • Incorrect categorisation of your qualifications
  • No pay for annual leave, public holidays or illness

Report minimum wage fraud now

Please describe your activity, the suspected case (in as much detail as possible) and where you work.
Please provide the name and, if possible, the address of the company.
State the date or period of the violation.
Here you can name witnesses or indicate whether documents are available.
I am aware that my data will be passed on to customs. If I wish to remain anonymous, no personal data will be passed on to customs. The General Data Protection Regulation applies.
You can voluntarily provide your name and a contact number. This will enable us or customs to ask questions.
First name and last name

The initiative

Mindestlohnbetrug.de is an initiative by Victor Perli. Regular written inquiries from him reveal the figures mentioned.

Regional Parliamentary Office

Victor Perli, MdB
Reichenbachstraße 2
21335 Lüneburg

opening hours
Montag: 11:00-13:00 Uhr
Dienstag: 11:00-13:00 Uhr
Mittwoch: 16:00-18:00 Uhr
Donnerstag: 11:00-13:00 Uhr

Foto von Victor Perli, geschossen von: Alexander Klebe