Poland Raises Minimum Wage: What Will Happen to Bonuses and Delays in Payments

Starting from January 1, 2027, the minimum wage in Poland will amount to 4950 zlotys gross. Separately, the Sejm is considering a bill that changes the calculation of bonuses and allowances, and provides for automatic payment of interest for delayed salaries. This is reported by InPoland.

Minimum Wage in Poland: Approved Rates for 2027

The new payment rates have already been established by a decree of the Polish government dated September 14, 2026. They will come into effect at the beginning of the next year:

• 4950 zlotys gross per month for a full-time employee;

• 32.30 zlotys gross per hour for defined civil law contracts.

Compared to 2026, the monthly minimum wage will increase by 144 zlotys, or approximately 3%. The hourly rate will rise by 0.90 zlotys, approximately 2.9%.

Gross means the amount before tax deductions and contributions. The actual payment will depend on the type of contract, tax allowances, and other circumstances of the employee.

A separate bill proposes to exclude additional components such as functional allowances, bonuses, and awards from the minimum wage calculation. This may change the salary calculation rules: such payments will not be allowed to be used to meet the established minimum.

For example, if a certain bonus is excluded from the calculation, the employer will not be able to count it towards the amount that ensures the minimum wage. However, the final list of payments will depend on the adopted version of the law.

Delay in Salary in Poland: What Changes Are Proposed from 2027

The project stipulates mandatory calculation and payment of interest for salary delays without a separate request from the employee. They must be calculated from the day following the established payment date and transferred together with the debt.

The authors also propose to strengthen responsibility for prolonged non-payment of salaries and concealing part of the earnings to avoid mandatory alimony deductions. In particular, for the latter violation, the proposed fine ranges from 2000 to 90,000 zlotys.

The consideration of bill No. 1811 continues in parliamentary committees. On June 11, the Sejm did not support its rejection and referred the document to the committees on economy and development, as well as social policy and family.

The increase in the minimum wage has already been approved, while changes regarding bonuses, interest, and sanctions remain a legislative proposal. The specified date of January 1, 2027, does not guaranteed that all of its provisions will come into effect on that day.

Employees should check the guaranteed payment in their contracts, the terms of bonuses, and the payment date. When changing employers, these details are as important as the amount in the advertisement, especially if a person plans to find a job directly.