Additional Pay for Firefighters Facing Special Tasks Under Proposed Rules

The Polish Ministry of Interior and Administration has proposed new regulations enabling additional remuneration for State Fire Service officers handling tasks outside standard duties.

New Rules for State Fire Service Remuneration

Additional money is coming for firefighters handling special tasks, though it will not represent a raise for all personnel. The Ministry of Interior and Administration is altering regulations regarding compensation for tasks extending beyond ordinary service, with the project concerning approximately 30.5 thousand State Fire Service (PSP) officers.

External Funding and Special Projects

Previously, regulations governing the additional remuneration of PSP firefighters did not explicitly define the rules for granting pay for tasks performed under special programs and projects executed by units. The Ministry wants to change this through a draft regulation dated July 20, 2026, introducing a new provision enabling the payment of additional remuneration for tasks financed from external sources, including European Union funds, non-repayable foreign funds, and state budget resources such as subsidies.

Criteria for Receiving Extra Pay

Not every firefighter will receive additional remuneration. The solution applies to PSP officers, numbering about 30.5 thousand, and the changes do not mean an automatic salary increase for all personnel. Additional pay will be granted to those who receive a written order to execute specific tasks related to a program or project that exceed their official duties.

Calculation and Disbursement of Funds

The amount of additional remuneration will result from the implementation agreement of the program or project, project management agreement, or another document confirmed by the managing institution. The Ministry envisions that the remuneration will be calculated separately for each type of task performed, and paid out after confirmation of implementation and receipt of project financing funds by the PSP unit.

Standardizing Procedures Across Units

The Ministry of Interior and Administration points out that current regulations do not directly regulate remuneration for participating in projects, particularly those co-financed by the European Union. The lack of clear rules caused interpretive doubts and varying practices across individual units, prompting new provisions to unify payment rules and ensure clear bases for rewarding officers, similar to solutions functioning within the Police.

Implementation Timeline and Legal Basis

The Ministry proposes that the regulation enter into force the day after its announcement due to the urgent need to enable payments to firefighters for completed tasks, with the project currently at the inter-ministerial consultation stage under the legal basis of the Ministry’s draft amending remuneration conditions for State Fire Service firefighters performing commissioned tasks (list number 1336).