Starting July 8, 2026, the Labor Code will introduce new protections for employees against retaliatory actions, while simultaneously doubling the range of fines for labor law violations to 2,000–60,000 PLN.
Expanded scope of labor law offenses
Beginning July 8, 2026, the Labor Code will be amended to include new offenses regarding the treatment of employees. Specifically, employers will face penalties for violating the prohibition on unfavorable treatment of an employee following a decision confirming the existence of an employment relationship.
This measure serves to protect workers from retaliatory or repressive actions taken by employers after their employment status has been legally verified. The legislative update aims to provide a more effective instrument for enforcing respect for employee rights.
Increased penalties for non-compliance
The amendment significantly alters Article 281 § 1 of the Labor Code. In addition to defining new offenses, the scale of financial penalties will double. Previously, fines for labor offenses ranged from 1,000 PLN to 30,000 PLN, but after the amendment, these will increase to a range of 2,000 PLN to 60,000 PLN.
Protection against retaliation
The new regulation explicitly prohibits any adverse treatment of an employee following a decision that recognizes an employment relationship, especially in cases where a civil-law contract was used to mask actual employment. Such a decision cannot serve as grounds for termination of employment, whether with or without notice.
The Ministry justification emphasizes that this change addresses the prevalence of using civil-law contracts instead of employment contracts to bypass labor regulations. By imposing stricter penalties, the legislature seeks to strengthen the stability of employment for workers whose status has been confirmed by State Labor Inspectorate inspections.