Labour law in Poland: What’s changing in 2025?

Christmas Eve becomes an official public holiday (at long last)

Poland has long debated making Christmas Eve (December 24) an official public holiday. As of 2025, it’s confirmed: Christmas Eve will now be a statutory day off work, allowing employees to spend more time with family during the festive season.

This change has been widely welcomed as a step towards work-life balance.

Minimum wage and hourly rate increase

Starting January 1, 2025, the minimum wage in Poland rises to 4666 PLN gross (approximately 3510.92 PLN net), up from 4300 PLN gross in 2024. This marks a notable boost of 366 PLN gross.

The hourly minimum wage also increases to 30.50 PLN gross, compared to its 2024 rates of 27.70 PLN (January–June) and 28.10 PLN (June–December).

These changes aim to align wages with inflation and improve the financial well-being of Poland’s workforce.

Additional parental leave for preterm and hospitalized newborns

Effective March 19, 2025, parents of premature babies or full-term newborns requiring extended hospitalization will receive additional parental leave. This leave is granted immediately after standard maternity leave, regardless of the parent’s gender.

The duration of additional leave depends on the baby’s birth circumstances:

• Up to 15 weeks for babies born extremely prematurely or with very low birth weight.
• Up to 8 weeks for moderately premature babies.
• Up to 8 weeks for full-term babies requiring hospitalization shortly after birth.

This reform underscores the importance of family support during critical post-birth periods.

Increased wage subsidies for employees with disabilities

Employers hiring individuals with disabilities will benefit from higher wage subsidies in 2025. The new rates are:

• 2760 PLN (up from 2400 PLN) for employees with severe disabilities.
• 1550 PLN (up from 1350 PLN) for employees with moderate disabilities.
• 575 PLN (up from 500 PLN) for employees with mild disabilities.

These subsidies aim to encourage inclusive hiring practices and provide better support for disabled employees in the workplace.

Upcoming in 2025: Key changes in hiring foreign workers

While not yet implemented, significant updates to the law on employing foreign workers are expected in 2025. Key provisions include:

• Digitalizing the application process for work permits to speed up decision-making.
• Clarifying and expanding the grounds for denying work permits.
• Increasing penalties for illegal employment, with fines ranging from 3000 PLN to 50,000 PLN per case.
• Introducing measures to support the integration of foreign workers into Polish society.

These updates aim to streamline the hiring process, ensure compliance, and enhance the experience of foreign workers in Poland.

Sources:

Ministerstwo Pracy, Rodziny i Polityki Społecznej