Can I be fined for working off the books?

If you have legal residence and you have received benefits (unemployment, a living allowance…), you may be obliged to repay them. If you do not receive benefits, you may be fined between 800 and 8000 euros.

There are three exceptions, however. This fine will not be imposed if:


• You personally file a complaint with the inspectorate against the employer before an inspection takes place.
or
• Inspectors establish during an inspection that you may be a victim of human trafficking .
or
• Inspectors establish during an inspection that you are a victim of economic exploitation.

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