New Salaries and Vacations in Poland: What Changed for Employees from 2026

New Salaries and Vacations in Poland: What Changed for Employees from 2026

From January 1, 2026, changes in labor legislation were introduced in Poland, which include an increase in the minimum wage and new rules for calculating vacation tenure. These changes aim to improve working conditions and ensure greater social justice for employees.

Salaries and New Rules for Calculating Tenure

Salaries: how much is now paid in Poland. The minimum monthly wage has increased from 4,666 to 4,806 zlotys gross. The net income of an employee now amounts to approximately 3,606 zlotys, which is equivalent to about 42,500 hryvnias. The minimum hourly rate has also changed: it has increased from 30.50 to 31.40 zlotys gross, which is approximately 370 hryvnias per hour. In addition, the quarterly income limit for unregistered activity is 225% of the minimum wage, which amounts to 10,813.50 zlotys for three months.

Vacations: tenure will be calculated differently. Previously, years of work under Umowa zlecenia were not counted towards labor tenure. However, now periods of work under civil law contracts sum up to the total labor tenure. It is also important to note that graduation from university (bachelor's or master's) automatically grants 8 years of tenure, while graduation from vocational school or a technical college grants between 4 to 6 years of tenure.

For businesses and side jobs, these changes can create new opportunities. In particular, the increase in the minimum wage will contribute to improving the financial situation of employees, and the new rules for calculating tenure may encourage people to legalize their labor activities.

Changes in Poland's labor legislation in 2026, including an increase in the minimum wage and new rules for calculating tenure, may significantly impact the labor market. This could lead to a reduction in the shadow economy, as more employees will be able to legalize their activities due to improved working conditions and new opportunities for calculating tenure. In the long term, these changes may contribute to an overall increase in the quality of life for employees in Poland.