New regulations allowing broader recognition of work history for employment purposes will apply to Poland’s private sector starting May 1, 2026, potentially benefiting millions of workers.
New Work History Regulations for the Private Sector
Starting May 1, 2026, the private sector will implement new rules for calculating work history. An amendment to the Labor Code allows for the inclusion of various forms of professional activity, not just traditional employment, when determining seniority.
Public sector employees have already benefited from these changes since the beginning of 2026, with nearly 640,000 applications submitted to the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) as of April 28th for certificates to credit periods towards work history.
Legal Basis for the Changes
The changes to work history entitlements are introduced by the Act of September 26, 2025, amending the Labor Code and other acts (Journal of Laws 2025, item 1423). This legislation has been anticipated by many.
Scope of the New Regulations
The new rules regarding work history will apply to all employers starting May 1st. From May 1, 2026, companies in the private sector will be required to implement changes to the Labor Code that broaden the calculation of work history.
These regulations have been in effect for individuals employed in the public finance sector since January 1, 2026. They can request that their employer credit periods of professional activity other than standard employment contracts towards their work history.
Clarification: Work History vs. Pensionable Service
The Social Insurance Institution has repeatedly emphasized that the new regulations do not affect pensionable service. They do not impact the right to a pension or how its amount is calculated. Understanding these new regulations is important, as the name can be misleading.
Impact of Crediting Work History Periods
Many are wondering what the impact of adding years to work history will be. Additional years credited to work history will affect various aspects of employment.
ZUS Processing and Certificate Issuance
The Social Insurance Institution has 7 working days to process such requests. ZUS has issued over 1 million certificates.
As of April 28th, nearly 640,000 applications for a certificate of insurance for the purpose of crediting periods towards work history have been submitted to ZUS. The process is highly automated, as ZUS has 7 working days to process each request, and has issued over 1 million certificates.
Eligibility for “Stażowe” Benefits
The Labor Code specifies the periods that can be credited towards work history, provided the applicant obtains the appropriate certificate from ZUS.
Rationale Behind the Changes: Addressing Inequality
The justification for the law, as emphasized by the bill’s sponsor, addresses the unequal treatment of workers based on their previous professional activities. Periods of self-employment, contract work, agency work, and membership in agricultural cooperatives were previously not counted towards employment history.
This situation disadvantaged workers who engaged in these forms of activity before taking on traditional employment, hindering their access to certain employee benefits and positions requiring specific work history. The law aims to level the playing field and provide equal opportunities.
How to Apply for “Stażowe”: USP Certificate Application
The application for a certificate must be submitted electronically through the Social Insurance Institution’s (ZUS) teleinformation system (eZUS).
Submitting the USP Application: Step-by-Step
Since January 1, 2026, the “Application for a Certificate of Insurance for the Purpose of Crediting Periods to Work History” (USP) is available on eZUS. ZUS has added a new tile in the side menu that leads directly to the USP application form, making it easier and faster to find and submit.
ZUS Response to USP Application
When the response to the USP application appears in the eZUS account, the insured person or proxy receives notification. If notifications are enabled, they will receive an SMS, email, or mobile app notification (mZUS) according to their preferences set in the Settings → Subscription Settings tab.
Individuals expecting a response should regularly log in to eZUS and check for a decision or certificate if they haven’t set up notifications. ZUS encourages activating notifications to receive timely information about new documents.
Verification of Certificate Authenticity
Employers can now remotely verify the certificate issued by ZUS in response to the USP application. To check the authenticity of the certificate on the ZUS website, click the [Search and Services] tile, then the link to the service confirming the authenticity of certificates of insurance or contributions, which is a response to the ZUS USP application (service on the eZUS portal).
Incorrect information may be due to changes in the certificate content. To clarify the situation, the employee should visit a ZUS branch in person or schedule an e-visit.