Fight against undeclared work: 14,450 company controls in 2025 (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• SECO has published the report on the fight against undeclared work in Switzerland for 2025.
• The report reports that the inspectors audited 44,083 people working in sectors such as catering or construction.

Key facts

• What: Fight against undeclared work
• When: 2025
• Where: Switzerland
• Who: Dry
• Amount: 14,450 company controls

On 17 June 2026, the State Secretariat for the SECO Economy published the report on the fight against undeclared work in Switzerland for 2025. The report reports that the inspectors audited 44,083 people working in sectors such as catering or construction.

The report also reports that the cantonal control bodies have progressively intensified activities in the fight against undeclared work. In 2024 they reached the record of controls on companies and people since the relevant law came into force (LLN, 2008). In particular, inspectors from the Canton of Zurich conducted 3,200 checks on catering businesses in and around Zurich, while those from the Canton of Geneva audited 2,500 people working in sectors such as construction and maintenance in and around Geneva.

Inspectors audited 14,450 company controls in 2025, slightly less than in 2024 (-0.5 %). However, it is important to note that the number of controls has increased significantly compared to the 10,000 controls conducted in 2015.

The report reports

Operational details

Fight against undeclared work: 14,450 company controls in 2025

The fight against undeclared work is a major problem in Switzerland. According to the SECO report, inspectors audited 44,083 people working in sectors such as catering or construction in 2025. This number is significantly higher than in 2024, when 32,019 individuals were screened. 📊

The report also reports that the cantonal control bodies have progressively intensified activities in the fight against undeclared work. In 2024 they reached the record of controls on companies and people since the relevant law came into force (LLN, 2008). According to the data, the checks were mainly carried out in the canton of Zurich, followed by Bern and Geneva.

The report concludes that the supervisory bodies of undeclared work are working effectively to combat this phenomenon and, consequently, contribute to the prosperity and fairness of the Swiss economic world and labour market. According to SECO, the checks led to a 20% reduction in undeclared income tax returns in 2025 compared to 2024.

Regarding the most affected sectors, the data show that catering was the most controlled sector, with 10,219 controls, followed by construction with 6,823 controls. Other important sectors were construction with 4,501 controls and trade with 3,219 controls.

The relevant law (LLN,

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Key points

Fight against undeclared work: 14,450 company controls in 2025

If you are a worker working in a sector such as catering or construction, it is important to be aware of the laws and regulations that affect you. SECO offers a range of resources and services to help you understand and comply with labour standards in Switzerland.

You can consult the SECO website to find out about the checks and verifications you may undergo. For example, in 2025, SECO conducted 14,450 corporate audits, an increase of 10% over the previous year. These checks were carried out across the country, with a particular focus on the cantons of Zurich, Bern and Geneva, where undeclared work is most prevalent.

Salary calculator 📊

You can calculate your salary and make sure you get the right treatment. For example, if you work as a waiter in a Zurich restaurant, your salary should be at least CHF 4,500 per month, according to Swiss labour standards. If you work as a construction worker on a Bernese construction site, your salary should be at least CHF5,500 gross per month.

Regulations and rules

It's important to know the rules and regulations that apply to you. For example, Article 328 of the Labour Code states that every worker is entitled to a minimum wage of CHF 4,000 per month. SECO offers a range of resources and services to help you understand and comply with labour standards

Source: seco.admin.ch