Poland’s Senate approved amendments to the Sports Act on April 8, 2026, enhancing benefits for female athletes during and after pregnancy.
Enhanced Stipends During Pregnancy
The amended law establishes clear guidelines for stipend payments during pregnancy, ensuring athletes receive 100% of their stipend throughout the entire period. This aims to provide financial stability and allow for safe preparation for motherhood without income loss.
Extended Postpartum Stipends
Previously, national team members received only 50% of their stipend for six months after childbirth, creating disparities with women employed under labor contracts. The new legislation extends this period to one year, increasing the benefit to 81.5% of the original stipend amount.
Addressing Miscarriage and Infant Loss
The law also addresses difficult circumstances, providing an 81.5% stipend for 12 weeks following miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of a child before eight weeks of age—longer than the eight weeks of maternity leave guaranteed by the Labor Code.
Hospitalization Support
The legislation accounts for situations requiring newborn hospitalization, potentially extending the stipend period based on the duration of the hospital stay. Additional weeks of stipend payment are allocated for each week of hospitalization, with longer periods available for premature babies and those with very low birth weights.
Stipend Extensions Based on Birth Timing
For births before 28 weeks of gestation or with very low birth weight, the extension can reach up to 15 weeks postpartum. For births between 28 and 37 weeks, it extends to 8 weeks, while full-term births require hospitalization of several days to qualify for an extension.
Local Government Stipend Protection
The amendments also modify Article 31 of the law, regulating stipends awarded by local government units, to provide similar protections for pregnant and postpartum athletes regarding these benefits.