At the end of 2024, the number of foreigners reported to social security in Poland amounted to 1 million 192.9 thousand, which is an increase of over 65,000. compared to the previous year. For contrast, in 2008 only 16,000 were in the ZUS database. people from abroad. Currently, the most numerous are the citizens of Ukraine, Belarus and Georgia, who are the main group of migrating employees in Poland.
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The Chief Labor Inspector Marcin Stanecki, in an interview with the Polish Press Agency, expressed concerns that the problem of illegal employment of foreigners may deepen, especially taking into account data from other European Union countries, where such people are more likely to become victims of accidents at work, including those of the most severe nature, including deadly.
Inspection inspections reveal unethical practices, such as reducing the hourly rates below the applicable minimum level, which in Poland is currently PLN 30.50 gross, the use of contractual penalties or deducting accommodation costs. It happens that the places of residence offered by employers will define the basic dignity standards – this situation, in Stanecki's opinion, is unacceptable.
He also indicated a case that can be described as the extreme insolence of one of the controlled entrepreneurs, which in his complaint to the inspection justified the payment of the rate of PLN 4-5 per hour for an employee from Ukraine as a practice allegedly consistent with the principles of respect for human dignity. “We have a minimum wage act, which applies in Poland regardless of the employee's citizenship,” commented Stanecki.
On June 1, a new law entered into force regarding the conditions of employment of foreigners, introducing a series of changes aimed at limiting dishonest practices and improving formalities. Key provisions are regulated by, among others Employers' obligations in the scope of verification of stay documents. Foreigners must provide a valid document entitling you to stay before starting work, and a copy of this document must be stored by the employer throughout the entire employment period and for two years after its completion.
As part of the new regulations, special points for foreigners will be launched in poviat labor offices, and the entire process related to issuing work permits will be automated and fully carried out in electronic form. Penalties for illegal employment of employees from abroad have also been tightened – a fine for the case of such action is from 3,000. up to 50,000 zloty.
The new law is also one of the milestones in the implementation of the National Reconstruction Plan, aimed not only in improving administrative procedures, but also to ensure better social protection for migrating workers.
