In Poland, transparency rules for salaries are being implemented, which will affect hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians working in the country. Employers are required to inform candidates of the amount of future compensation and justify the difference in salaries for the same job. This is how new labor payment rules in the EU work. This is reported by Gazeta Prawna.
Salaries in Poland: what has already changed for candidates
The first provisions take effect on December 24, 2025. Employers must inform the candidate of the amount or a specific range of future salary. Recruiters are also prohibited from asking how much a person earned at their previous job.
The full implementation of the EU directive was supposed to be completed by June 7, 2026, but Poland, like several other EU countries, is still finalizing legislation. Large companies, where more than 250 people work, are preparing to report wage gaps between women and men.
Salary transparency: what payments will be analyzed
When assessing salaries, not only the base salary but also bonuses and additional payments will be taken into account. The analysis may include bonuses, allowances for seniority, additional pay for night shifts, overtime work, and work on holidays.
Non-monetary benefits will also be considered: health insurance, sports and meal cards, housing and fuel assistance, sick leave for the first 33 days, and severance pay. Compensation for remote work and payments related to pregnancy, childbirth, or childcare will not be included in the calculation.
If employees perform the same job but receive different amounts, the employer must explain the reason using objective criteria, such as experience, the scope of duties, or performance results. This does not mean an automatic salary increase for every Ukrainian to match their Polish colleagues. Employees will also be able to request average pay data for similar jobs, broken down by gender. To understand the salary structure and deductions, Ukrainians in Poland should familiarize themselves with the risks of non-transparent payments.