flash news: #labour market
On 6 February 2026, details appeared in the legislative schedule of the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy about a draft regulation regarding countries whose citizens will not be entitled to work while visiting Poland under visa-free travel.
On 13 February, the Sejm passed an amendment to the Act on cash benefits from social insurance in the event of sickness or maternity (document no. 2122). It simplifies the procedure for applying for a care allowance.
According to the latest information from Statistics Poland (GUS) (published on 10 February 2026), at the end of August 2025, over one million foreigners (1.1 million) were working in Poland. Their share in the total number of people working in Poland was thus 6.7% which represents a 5.6% increase in the number of foreigners working in Poland (compared to the previous year's data).
In his last statement, the Chief Labour Inspector Marcin Stanecki has emphasized that The National Labour Inspectorate does not have authority to impose fines for job advertisements that breach the principle of gender neutrality. However, that does not mean that employers bear no responsibility emphasises Marcin Stanecki, Chief Labour Inspector.
The Ministry of Family, Labour, and Social Policy (“MRPiPS”) has published an Action Plan to support collective bargaining that is intended to increase the number of collective labour agreements and revitalise social dialogue. The document implements obligations arising from EU law; however, according to experts, its current form is too general.
On 7 January, the president signed two amendments that are significant for employers and employees. The Act of 4 December 2025 eases certain formal requirements in the Labour Code, whilst the changes of 18 December 2025 concern the Social Insurance Institution's (ZUS) adjudication system and the rules on sick leave.