Poland tightens oversight of employment contracts: what Ukrainian workers risk

From July 8, 2026, new rules for checking employment contracts will come into force in Poland. The Labor Inspectorate will gain the authority to compulsorily convert civil-law agreements into official employment contracts if it is established that a worker is effectively employed as a staff member.

This was reported by Radiozet.pl.

The reform introduces a two-stage oversight model. When violations are identified, an inspector first issues the employer with an order to remedy them. If the requirements are ignored, the case may proceed to an administrative decision on the compulsory reclassification of the contract or to a court claim.

The key assessment criterion will not be the name of the document but the actual format of the working relationship. Inspectors will check three elements: personal performance of duties, the presence of management or supervision, and a fixed schedule and place of work. If all three indicators are present, the contract must be an employment contract.

A digital monitoring system is being launched in parallel. State systems will automatically identify suspicious schemes and share data with the tax authority and the social insurance fund. This will allow for the rapid detection of cases involving the mass replacement of staff positions with B2B contracts or long-term cooperation through invoices with a single client.

Experts are warning of possible consequences for foreign workers. Tomasz Bogdewicz, CEO of the employment company Gremi Personal, in a comment to RBC-Ukraine, pointed to the main risk:

“The main risk for Ukrainian workers lies not in the inspections themselves but in employers’ reactions. Companies that make widespread use of umowa zlecenia or B2B contracts instead of employment contracts may begin to cut staff, change schedules, transfer workers to contractors, or refuse to hire foreigners in order to reduce costs and legal risks,” — Bogdewicz said.

The expert stresses that there will be no automatic legalization of every contract — the terms of each agreement will be assessed individually.

“For Ukrainians, the reform may provide more labor guarantees, but at the same time significantly increase the risk of job loss with unscrupulous employers. Particularly vulnerable are workers whose right to stay or work is tied to a specific employer,” — Bogdewicz explains.

In the event of such contracts being terminated, workers will have to urgently seek new legal grounds for employment and keep track of deadlines for notifying state authorities.

RBC-Ukraine previously reported that Ukrainians with temporary protection status in Poland need to update their data in the PESEL register — otherwise refugees risk losing their UKR status and access to social rights. In addition, in April 2026, Polish employers began hiring temporary staff 10% more frequently.