Exploitation of foreign workers: Austrian companies face huge fines
In the city of Linz, the Austrian financial police uncovered serious violations of labor laws at a construction site in the Plus City area. Two inspections revealed 20 cases of 'wage dumping' involving foreign workers, and the responsible companies now face fines of up to around 50,000 euros.
Investigations focused on renovation projects linked to a famous fashion chain. Fraud office officers conducted a thorough review of payroll documents, revealing that many workers were not receiving the wages stipulated by Austrian law. Suspicions quickly arose during routine inspections that these workers were being financially exploited.
Finance Minister Markus Martenbauer stated that these inspections significantly contribute to protecting workers' rights and ensuring fair wages, emphasizing that authorities will continue to pursue violators to ensure fair competition among companies.
34 workers from Spain, Portugal, Poland, Ecuador, Peru, and Mali have been found working on a renovation project. According to the authorities, they were being paid significantly low wages, in violation of the wage dumping and social security laws in Austria. The construction companies involved now face significant financial penalties as a result of these violations.