What SOKA-BAU is — and who it covers
SOKA-BAU are the joint social funds of the German construction industry, financing above all construction workers’ holiday entitlements. The obligation follows from universally binding collective agreements and covers businesses performing construction work in Germany — including foreign posting companies.
The decisive and often contested question: does your business fall under the collective agreements at all (do “construction services” predominate)? The validity of the claims depends on it.
Contributions and what you get back
For posted workers a holiday fund contribution is paid on gross wages. In return workers acquire holiday claims against the fund, and the company can under conditions obtain refunds (e.g. where it paid the holiday remuneration itself). Many foreign companies pay in but never claim back what they are owed — the procedures are formalised and German-language.
Disputes with SOKA-BAU
SOKA-BAU consistently sues for arrears — before a specialised labour court in Wiesbaden. We defend on two tracks: challenging coverage by the collective agreements where there are grounds, and clean accounting plus refund applications where the obligation exists.
Silence works against you
Unanswered SOKA-BAU letters end in default judgments and enforcement — including abroad. Reply within the deadlines, ideally after legal review.