Foreigners in Poland are mass complaining about salary schemes: 69% faced opaque payments

Almost seven out of ten foreign workers in Poland have encountered opaque salary formation through employment agencies. The problem often arises from the discrepancy between the promised netto amount and the brutto salary after taxes and contributions. This is especially relevant for Ukrainians, of whom a record 784 thousand are already working in the country. This is reported by OBOZ.UA.

Why salaries in Poland may differ from what was promised

According to a survey provided to the publication by an international recruitment company, 69% of foreign workers have faced an opaque salary formation scheme through agencies at least once. Moreover, 57.8% of respondents have encountered such situations two or more times.

One of the main issues is the misunderstanding of the difference between brutto and netto salaries. Employees may be given an attractive amount 'in hand', but not explained in writing what brutto salary it is based on and what taxes and contributions will be deducted, and how the final payment will be influenced.

For Ukrainians, this is a significant issue, as their incomes in Poland vary considerably depending on profession and employment form. According to the National Bank of Poland, the median net salary of Ukrainians was just under 4,500 zlotys.

At the same time, high salaries continue to attract candidates. 64.3% of respondents stated that the amount of pay significantly influences the choice of vacancy.

'The attempt to lure workers with only a higher rate is gradually losing effectiveness,' the specialists noted.

Why foreigners in Poland have become more cautious about high salaries

The research showed that 74.5% of foreign workers have become more cautious about offers with noticeably higher payment over time. The strongest change in behavior is observed among those who have been working in Poland for over three years.

If an employer or agency cannot explain in writing how the proposed salary is formed, a high figure is increasingly perceived by candidates not as an advantage, but as a potential risk.

'Therefore, the competitive advantage is no longer the maximum figure in the advertisement, but the ability of the agency to prove that this figure is real, transparent, and will not create problems for the worker in a few months,' the analysts explained.

Before signing a contract, workers should check whether it concerns brutto or netto rates, what taxes and insurance contributions are included, whether bonuses, additional payments for night shifts and overtime work are included, as well as what amounts may be deducted for housing or transportation.

Ukrainians remain the largest group of foreign workers in Poland. As of the end of March 2026, 784,000 Ukrainian citizens were officially working in the country, or about 68% of all employed foreigners.

Recall that earlier Inkorr reported how much Ukrainians earn in Poland and why their incomes differ from Polish workers' salaries.