Berlin Raids Uncover Indian Chefs Forced to Work 13-Hour Days for 75% Below Minimum Wage

German authorities raid network accused of exploiting Indian chefs with 13-hour days, wages 75% below minimum, and passport confiscation as part of broader labour crime offensive.

A coordinated operation by Berlin prosecutors and police on Wednesday targeted a network accused of systematically exploiting Indian specialty chefs over several years. The raids, carried out across the districts of Mitte, Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg, focused on eight suspects between the ages of 36 and 66.

The investigation, led by the Joint Investigation Group (GEA), has been running since June 2023. Prosecutors say the group began recruiting Indian cooks as early as 2021, then subjected them to working days of up to 13 hours with wages allegedly as much as 75 percent below Germany’s statutory minimum wage. In some cases, victims received no payment at all. To maintain control, the suspects reportedly confiscated workers’ passports and housed them in overcrowded accommodation or basement rooms. Authorities believe a network of shell companies was used to evade social security contributions.

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During Wednesday’s searches, officers inspected a combined kitchen-and-staff accommodation unit as well as two private apartments. Four affected workers were found on site. Investigators seized mobile phones and wage journals as evidence. The local building authority ordered the immediate closure of the accommodation due to serious fire-safety violations, while food inspectors discovered severe hygiene deficiencies and ordered the disposal of existing food supplies. The raids follow an earlier round of searches in the same case in spring 2024.

The Berlin operation was part of a broader crackdown on labour crime in the region. A day earlier, on Tuesday, roughly 390 officers from customs, the federal police, state police and the tax investigation unit had deployed in southern Brandenburg, with a focus on the city of Cottbus. That action targeted suspected smuggling of foreigners, non-payment of social security contributions and tax evasion. Authorities confirmed the seizure of extensive evidence but, citing investigative tactics, declined to name the companies or individuals involved.

Wednesday’s raids come amid growing international scrutiny of working conditions. On Tuesday, the US administration proposed additional tariffs on 60 economies, including the European Union, citing insufficient action against imports of goods produced through forced labour. A report by the US Trade Representative (USTR) classifies 54 economies as countries without effective bans on such imports, and accuses both the EU and Canada of failing to enforce existing rules consistently. The proposed measures, still subject to public consultation, signal that legal and economic risks for companies ignoring labour standards in their supply chains are rising globally.