New Polish regulations, effective January 27, 2026, mandate employers to pay salaries no later than the 10th of the following month.
New Regulations on Salary Payments
New regulations, effective from January 2026, require employers to pay wages no later than the 10th day of the month following the work period.
Employers are obligated to pay salaries by the 10th of each month. These regulations stem from the implementation of an EU directive into Polish law and came into force on January 27, 2026.
Legal Basis for Timely Payments
According to Article 85 § 1 of the Labor Code, salaries must be paid at least once a month, on a fixed and regular date. If the payment date falls on a non-working day, the salary must be paid earlier – on the last working day preceding that date.
The regulation further specifies that monthly salaries should be paid “from below,” immediately after being fully determined, but no later than the first 10 days of the following calendar month.
Potential Issues with First Payments
The Ministry of Labor emphasizes that most employers make payments on time, according to their established schedule. However, problems may arise with the first payment for newly hired employees.
In practice, this means that someone starting work on January 1st often receives their first salary around February 10th.
What to Do If Your Salary Is Not Paid
If an employer does not pay the salary on time, the employee has the right to file a complaint with the State Labor Inspectorate (PIP). The notification should be sent to the appropriate district labor inspectorate or its branch, according to the employer’s registered office.
Addresses of the units are available on the PIP website.
PIP Actions and Legal Recourse
Upon receiving the notification, the inspector may conduct an inspection and request the employer to provide explanations. If arrears or delays are found, PIP may:
Alternatively, the employee can file a lawsuit in a labor court for payment of wages plus late payment interest.