Poland’s Ministry of Justice proposes 3% salary increases for judge’s assistants effective January 2026, with new minimum and maximum rates.
Salary Increase Details
The 3% salary increase for judge’s assistants is the result of funding secured in this year’s budget for increasing wages in the judiciary sector. This increase is linked to the established average annual wage growth index in the state budget sector for 2026, set at 103%.
According to the Ministry of Justice proposal, the minimum base salary for a judge’s assistant will increase from 6,500 zł to 6,700 zł gross. Meanwhile, the highest salary for this position will rise from 8,000 zł to 8,240 zł gross.
Salary rates for senior judge’s assistants will also increase, with the lower rate rising from 8,000 zł to 8,240 zł gross, and the upper rate from 9,000 zł to 9,270 zł gross.
Implementation Timeline
The Ministry of Justice wants the proposed regulation to take effect the day after its publication. The ministry explains that this urgency is necessary to ensure the fastest possible payment of salary increases for judge’s assistants, with retroactive adjustment from January 1, 2026.
The ministry argues that in this case, such a drastic reduction of the legislative waiting period will not conflict with the principles of a democratic state of law. They emphasize that “the important interest of the state requires ensuring working conditions and granting other work-related benefits for judge’s assistants at a level consistent with salary rates effective from January 1, 2026.”
Legislative Status
The ministry notes that court directors will be prepared for the immediate payment of modified judge’s assistant salaries, as they had previously secured funds for this purpose in their budgets. As such, they contend that the regulation taking effect the day after publication will not cause organizational difficulties for employers.
The project is currently in the stage of consultations, public consultation, and opinion-gathering.