The public prosecutor's office in Tübingen is investigating Stefan Wolf, head of overall metal.
Prosecutor Nicolaus Wegele confirmed to the FAZ that "investigations into withholding and misappropriation of wages" had been initiated.
The procedure is “related to a private household help”.
Gustave parts
Business correspondent in Stuttgart.
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Stefan Wolf did not want to comment on request.
"There is no comment," he told the FAZ. The investigations come at an inopportune time for the influential manager.
He is in the middle of collective bargaining with IG Metall about a new collective bargaining agreement.
Several rounds of negotiations remained without result.
The warning strikes are already underway.
Wolf is also CEO of the automotive supplier Elring-Klinger.
A spokesman for the group said that they took "no position on private matters" from Wolf.
The investigations started after research by the broadcaster RTL and the magazine Stern.
Accordingly, Wolf is said to have employed his housekeeper for years without paying taxes and social security funds.
The woman worked full-time, five days a week for Wolf and cleaned, shopped and tidied up.
Wolf is said to have told friends in the past that the woman did not want to be employed.
After the report, the public prosecutor's office in Tübingen announced that it was examining the initiation of an investigation.
Apparently the clues were enough.
If the investigations confirm the suspicion, several lawyers consider a prison sentence to be unlikely.
A fine is more likely.
Mr. Wolf's lawyers would now probably try to settle the matter by paying a fine.
Then there would not be a public general meeting.
It is the presumption of innocence.