Several important meetings took place last week that could significantly impact the shape of labor law regulations in the near future. In today's article, I will explore two key issues of particular importance to both employers and employees.
First reading of the draft law on seniority
On July 22, the first reading of the bill took place in the Sejm, which assumes that periods of running a sole proprietorship and working under a contract of mandate will be included in the length of service.
The aim of the project is to equalize opportunities in access to certain employee benefits – such as the right to longer leave or anniversary bonuses, seniority allowances, but also positions requiring confirmed professional experience.
As indicated, the essence is to improve the situation of employees on the labor market, so that those who worked in the past under a contract of mandate or ran a business activity receive new rights resulting from periods included in the length of service.
As we have already indicated, the period of employment will include, among others: periods of performance of a contract of mandate, provision of services, agency agreement and the period of being a cooperating person, the period of being a member of an agricultural production cooperative and a cooperative of agricultural circles.
Formally, the employee's period of service will be confirmed by the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) by means of a special certificate.
However, the legislator also assumes in the project that there is another option for the employee to prove his/her length of service – the employee will be able to prove it with his/her own documents confirming the period of work.
The Ministry indicates that the regulations are to apply from 1 January 2026.
PIP reform – another meeting at the Ministry
Last week, the third meeting of the National Labor Inspectorate (PIP) reform team took place. The meeting focused on discussing cooperation between the institutions. As indicated, this is another step towards achieving a milestone in the National Recovery Plan. It was emphasized that the goal of the PIP reform is primarily to eliminate the illegal replacement of employment contracts with other civil law contracts. As indicated, in such a scenario, the primary victim is the employee.
The team meeting focused on cooperation and data exchange between key institutions – the National Labor Inspectorate (PIP), the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), and the National Revenue Administration (Krajowa Administracja Skarbowa), in connection with PIP inspections. It was indicated that cooperation between these three entities would allow for more effective implementation of labor inspection inspections and decisions issued by PIP.
The reform of the National Labor Inspectorate is one of Poland's key commitments under the National Recovery Plan. Of particular importance is the introduction of a mechanism enabling the transformation of civil law contracts—concluded illegally in place of employment contracts—into genuine employment relationships. This is not only a step towards more effective employee protection but also a necessary condition for the release of subsequent tranches of funding from the EU Recovery Fund. Without this reform, access to EU funding may be blocked, and the problem of circumventing labor law will remain unresolved.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
The law is current as of August 1, 2025.
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