Major Raid Targets Engel & Völkers Over Alleged Employment Violations

Authorities investigate claims of misclassified workers and unpaid social contributions at the prominent real estate firm.

German customs officials conducted raids on 18 locations associated with Engel & Völkers, including its Hamburg headquarters, as part of a nationwide investigation.
The focus of the probe is the alleged misclassification of real estate agents as independent contractors while they reportedly operated under employee-like conditions.
Authorities suspect that several individuals involved failed to pay required social security contributions for these workers.
More than 300 personnel, including digital forensics experts, participated in the operation, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.
Engel & Völkers confirmed their cooperation with authorities and emphasized their commitment to resolving the allegations quickly and transparently.