Poland’s State Labor Inspectorate (PIP) is urging workers with concerns about misclassified contracts to hold off filing complaints until July 8, 2026, when new regulations come into force.
New Rules for Civil Law Contracts Begin in 2026
Changes to the rules governing civil law contracts will take effect on July 8, 2026, allowing the State Labor Inspectorate to more effectively address situations where such contracts are used to replace standard employment agreements.
Marcin Stanecki, Chief Labor Inspector, is appealing to employees to wait to submit complaints until the new regulations are in place.
PIP Prepares for Major Labor Market Shift
The State Labor Inspectorate is preparing for one of the most significant changes to labor market control in years. The new rules introduce a completely different approach to addressing the improper use of civil law contracts in place of employment contracts.
Hold Complaints Until July, Inspector Advises
Marcin Stanecki advises employees who suspect legal violations under civil law contracts to refrain from filing complaints before July 8th.
Why Delaying a Complaint is Beneficial
Currently, labor inspectors lack the authority to order the conversion of a civil law contract into an employment contract. Therefore, complaints filed now will be processed under existing regulations.
“We must process such complaints within 30 days, according to current regulations, which do not allow an inspector to order the transformation of a civil law contract into a full employment position,” explains Marcin Stanecki.
New Powers to Convert Contracts Arrive in July
The ability to order such conversions will only become available after the new regulations take effect in July. The Inspectorate will inform those filing complaints about the changes and, with their consent, suspend proceedings until the new rules are implemented.
Three Months to Prepare for New Regulations
The coming months will be a period of intensive preparation for the State Labor Inspectorate. The new regulations impose a number of additional organizational responsibilities on the Chief Labor Inspector.
Strategic Planning and IT Audits Underway
Key tasks include preparing a multi-year strategy for developing and increasing the effectiveness of PIP, conducting an IT security audit, and developing new control management standards.
Inter-Agency Task Force to Assess Risk
A multi-institutional task force will be established to assess the risk of labor law violations. The team will include representatives from the State Labor Inspectorate, the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), and the National Revenue Administration.
Increased Effectiveness in Contract Controls
The new regulations aim to increase the effectiveness of controls when civil law contracts are used instead of employment contracts. This means inspectors will have new tools to respond to such situations, and the complaint process will also change.
Experts believe the changes could significantly impact industries where contracts for specific work or contracts for services are commonly used.
Employers Urged to Review Contracts
The Chief Labor Inspector emphasizes that the next three months are also important for employers. Companies should use this time to analyze their employment practices and verify that civil law contracts do not, in practice, replace employment relationships.
With the new regulations in effect, controls in this area may become more decisive and effective.
PIP Gains Power to Convert Contracts to Employment
The new legislation allows district labor inspectors to issue decisions converting improperly concluded civil law contracts, such as contracts for specific work, into employment contracts. However, this will not happen immediately during an inspection.
First, the inspector will order the removal of violations, and only if the employer does not comply with this order will they be able to request a decision to convert the contract.
Both the employer and the employee will be able to appeal this decision to the labor court, suspending its execution until a final ruling. Simultaneously, it will be possible to secure the claim, providing the employee with the protection provided by labor law during the proceedings.
Enhanced PIP Control Powers from July 8, 2026
The law also provides new tools for the State Labor Inspectorate. Employers will be able to request an interpretation regarding the compliance of their employment practices with the regulations. PIP will also gain the ability to exchange data with ZUS and the National Revenue Administration and conduct some controls remotely.
The new regulations also require the preparation of control plans based on risk analysis and a tightening of sanctions – the maximum amount of the fine imposed by the inspector in summary proceedings is to be increased at least twofold.