Work and Wages

This page was last updated on: 2023-12-26

Minimum Wage

An employee is entitled to a fair wage which must cover the living expenses of the employee and his/her family members. It is the State's responsibility to determine the minimum wage for worker. Factors that are considered while determining minimum wage include needs of workers and their families, cost of living, level of wages and incomes in the country, economic development, productivity, level of employment, capacity of the employers to pay, inflation rate and certain other conditions. The amount of minimum pay is set each year by means of negotiations at the forum of the Tripartite Commission for Social and Economic Affairs. The amount of minimum pay for the subsequent year is set by 15 September each year. If consensus is not reached among the social partners, minimum wage is set by Government alone, provided that it should not be less than the level included in the proposal presented to the Tripartite Commission. Minimum wage can also be set through collective bargaining which should not be less than the legal provisions.

The  total amount of minimum pay is the monthly pay for a person in full-time employment. In the case of part-time work, the amount is reduced proportionally. Similarly, the minimum wage law allows that a worker may be paid 80% of the minimum wage during the first year of work. The level of minimum wage increases in accordance with the projected global average annual consumer price index. 

Compliance with Labour Code provisions including minimum wages is ensured by the National Labour Inspectorate [Panstwowa Inspekcja Pracy]. Proceedings against an employer who has paid to his employee a salary that is lower than the fixed minimum can be initiated at the request of the injured employee or as a consequence of a routine inspection by Inspectorate. In the event of non-payment or delay of payment of the full wage/salary to the employee, the Inspectorate may impose a fine of PLN 1,000 to 30,000.

Source: §2, 5 & 6(2) of the Law on Minimum Wage, Oct 2002; §13, 67, 81, 87 and 282 of Labour Code 1974

For updated minimum wages, kindly refer to the Section on Minimum Wage

Regular Pay

Wages must be paid at least once a month, on a fixed, pre-determined basis, no later than the 10th day of the following calendar month. Payment of remuneration is made in cash. Part-payment of remuneration in a form other than cash is allowed only where provision to that effect is made in labour law, regulations or a collective work agreement. The employer is obliged to pay remuneration at a place, date and time specified in labour (law) regulations. When the specified date of payment of remuneration for work is a day-off from work, remuneration shall be paid the previous day.

Government has set the minimum wage for civil law contracts and requires employer to pay pay remuneration in cash at least once a month; specify the manner of reporting the number of hours worked on performance of mandate or service during the conclusion of a contract; and retain all documentation confirming the number of hours worked for a 3-year period. From 1 January 2019, the workers' wages are paid through a transfer in the workers’ bank accounts. However, workers may still request wage payment in cash. Workers should receive their wages directly into their bank accounts except where worker has formally requested to receive the salary in cash.

Source: §86 of the Labour Code 1974

Regulations on Work and Wages

  • Kodeks pracy z 1974r., nowelizowany w 2013 / Labour code 1974, last amended in 2013
  • Ustawa z dnia 10 października 2002 r. o minimalnym wynagrodzeniu za pracę / Law on the Minimum Wage, Oct 2002

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