Undeclared Work | Unregistered Employment

Unregistered employment is a common method used by fraudulent social‑benefit recipients to obtain more support than they are entitled to. The court‑admissible private investigations of Kurtz Commercial Investigations Zurich and Switzerland are an effective tool for municipal and cantonal authorities to stop this type of social fraud: +41 44 5522 264.

Undeclared Work = Burden for All Taxpayers

According to various estimates, undeclared work causes at least 40 billion Swiss francs in annual economic damage. This resulting deficit must be compensated through adjustments to taxes and social contributions. Unfortunately, the Federal Act on Measures to Combat Undeclared Work (BGSA) is not implemented equally throughout Switzerland – cantonal differences, political disputes between the SVP and CVP parties, and inconsistencies among AHV authorities and the SGB trade union federation prevent a consistent nationwide approach to the shadow economy.

Undeclared work occurs across all age, income, and professional groups, with motives ranging from persistent financial hardship to outright greed: This includes the maintenance debtor who wants to minimise alimony payments, as well as the employer who facilitates undeclared work to save on contributions and gain a competitive advantage, since labour costs naturally affect market prices for products and services.

Our trained investigators of the Swiss Commercial Investigation Agency conduct research in cases of undeclared work for maintenance recipients and companies, as well as for employment offices and social authorities at both municipal and cantonal levels, to reveal the true financial circumstances. We are happy to support you in uncovering undeclared work. Please use our contact form or call us.

Multifaceted Shadow World | Zurich Private Investigators Bring Light Into the Darkness

For most people receiving benefits from social‑assistance offices, money is naturally tight. To supplement their household income, many of them work undeclared. Beyond the construction and hospitality sectors, social‑benefit recipients often work as domestic helpers – cleaners, housekeepers, nannies, gardeners, and more. In addition to the fact that these individuals are neither accident- nor health‑insured, their activities cause significant economic damage to social‑assistance offices, the Federal Tax Administration, and the Federal Social Insurance Office. In 2016, the OECD forecast that undeclared work in Switzerland accounted for 6.2 percent of official GDP; other estimates put it as high as 8 percent annually.

When undeclared work is suspected, it is very difficult for authorities to pursue individual cases intensively, as the required resources often exceed personnel and time capacities. Experience shows that it can take considerable time before suspicion falls on a specific benefits recipient. In particular, individuals without residence or work permits who engage in undeclared work are difficult to detect, as they are generally not registered officially. In these and many other scenarios, our trained Private Investigators in Switzerland carry out investigations. We are happy to provide a non‑binding consultation on our case‑specific approaches: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-schweiz.ch.

Flexible Investigation Methods in Response to Diverse Requirements

Our Zurich Investigation Agency has a wide range of investigative methods, which we select depending on the case. For example:

Nationwide Surveillance by Competent Investigators

The target person (TP) is suspected of regularly working undeclared as a construction worker. In this case, surveillance of the TP is appropriate: Our Private Investigators begin observations early at the TP’s residential address to monitor daily activities. Based on experience, a monitoring period of about three days is sufficient to document illegal activities in a court‑admissible manner.

Worldwide Operations via International Investigation Partners

If the TP travels for installation work, the locations may be across Switzerland or even throughout Europe. In many cases, it would be unreasonable and excessively time‑consuming – and therefore costly – to follow the TP across Europe. For this reason, we have been successfully cooperating for years with qualified investigative partners at home and abroad. We “hand over” the TP at prearranged geographic points to the cooperating agency and coordinate on the return, ensuring continuous observation and court‑admissible documentation.

Undercover Investigator Placement

Another method is used when the TP works in a company with no third‑party access. In this scenario, investigators can document commuting but not the actual work. An undercover investigator is placed within the company, applying with a watertight cover story and being employed regularly to approach the TP during work and document activities. Please note this method requires careful planning and several weeks of preparation.

Absolute Discretion in All Matters

Monitoring a person suspected of fraud is highly sensitive. Our Swiss Investigators, as well as our partner agencies, handle all operations discreetly. After all, it is possible that a TP is wrongfully suspected. We are happy to provide personal consultation regarding our flexible deployment strategies: +41 44 5522 264.