Ministry of Finance has already started work on budget assumptions at 2026. For thousands of Polish women and Poles, the minimum wage is an extremely important element of the arrangements. Unofficial and preliminary government forecasts are not identical to the expectations of trade unions.
See also: That's how Poles earn. Average pay out of the reach of many employees
As “Fakt” reminds, Until June 15, the government must present trade unions and employers' first assumptions, including regarding the minimum wage and increase in wages in the budget sphere.
For now, government forecasts indicate that the minimum wage in 2026 could be increased by an inflation rate, i.e. about 3.8 percent. With the current amount of the lowest domestic in the amount of 4,000 PLN 666 gross next year it would be 4,000. PLN 843 gross. In practice, it would be an increase of PLN 121 (from PLN 3,000 511 to PLN 3,000 632).
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The mentioned preliminary government forecasts, which were based, among others, on the forecast macroeconomic quantities included in the document “Long-term macroeconomic assumptions for 2025-2029”, do not satisfy trade unionists.
According to “Fakt”, before the second round of presidential elections, the three largest trade union headquarters – NSZZ “Solidarność”, the National Trade Union Agreement and the Trade Union “Forum” – presented their expectations regarding remuneration. According to trade union calculations, the minimum wage in 2026 should be 5,000. PLN 15 gross. This amount translates into PLN 3,000. PLN 749 on hand, which means an increase of PLN 239 more in the wallet.
See also: Minimum wage. The end of the dispute in the government, important changes are coming
Trade unionists maintain that such an increase in the minimum wage has a strong economic and social justification. “This is a nominal increase of PLN 349, i.e. 7.48 percent compared to the previous year” – indicates Norbert Kusiak from OPZZ.
Signed on May 22 by the three main trade union headquarters, the proposal also assumes increases in the budget sphere by 12 percent. Trade unionists believe that this is “not only an attempt to catch up for many years of neglect, but also a necessary step towards stopping the outflow of qualified employees” – indicates Norbert Kusiak, whose words are cited by “Fakt”.
