On 28 April 2025, the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy announced the start of preparations for the launch of a pilot project to shorten the working day. Today we are pleased to present the recruitment regulations! 

This will be the first pilot project for a shorter working day in this part of Europe, the first in our region, and the first pilot project on such a large scale in Poland. We want to encourage a shorter working day and encourage testing of solutions in various types of organisations. Entrepreneurs, local authorities, foundations, associations, trade unions will be able to take part in the pilot project, so that every employer can check what is working for them.

- said Labour Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk in April this year. 

We will help you develop the best solutions 

Reducing working hours brings benefits, but requires a flexible approach, adapted to the specific characteristics of industries and organisations. Reduced working hours cannot be imposed top-down. That is why we are announcing a pilot that will allow us to start practically testing different models of reduced working hours later this year. 

Who can apply for funding? 

The application can be submitted by employers, both private and public entities.  

What support can employers count on? 

The maximum value of support per pilot project is PLN 1 million. Importantly, the cost of the project per employee covered by the pilot cannot exceed PLN 20,000. 

From when will it be possible to apply for the pilot?   

Electronic submission will be possible from 14 August 2025 to 15 September 2025.  

The list of projects recommended for implementation will be published no later than 15 October 2025. 

What conditions must be met? 

• Operating for at least 12 months prior to the date of application.  

• Employing at least 75 per cent of employees under a contract of employment, appointment, election, nomination or cooperative employment contract.  

• Inclusion of a minimum of 50 per cent of employees in the project.  

• Maintaining employment at a level of not less than 90 per cent of the initial level, as specified in the application.  

• Maintaining the salaries of the staff involved in the pilot project at a level not lower than that in force on the date of the start of the pilot project, throughout its duration.  

• No deterioration in the working and pay conditions of project workers. 

What should the application contain? 

• The application must be submitted electronically via the application generator provided. The required documents are:  

• Application for the allocation of the Labour Fund reserve for the financing of the pilot project.  

• Pilot project, including description, purpose, rationale, assumptions, including outcomes and metrics.  

• Required declarations, including, inter alia, systematic and timely completion of questionnaires, not being in arrears with payments to employees, not being in arrears with taxes and social security contributions, not being in arrears with other public contributions, not being in arrears with civil law liabilities and a declaration of cooperation with the Job Centre.   

Please note that submission of documents does not constitute an award. 

Important deadlines! 

By 15 October 2025, the call will be settled and the list of employers who have qualified for the pilot will be published. The publication of the list of pilot projects recommended for implementation will be followed by the contracting stage. 

Implementation of the pilot project starts from the date of the contract and is divided into three phases:  

• Phase I: Preparation for the introduction of reduced working hours - runs from the signing of the contract and ends on 31 December 2025.  

• Phase II: Testing the introduction of reduced working hours in the working environment - starts on 1 January 2026 and runs until 31 December 2026.  

• Phase III: Summary of the implementation of the pilot project - ends no later than 15 May 2027 (by this date, the Project Implementer is obliged to submit the final report and the quarterly employer and employee surveys to the Minister). 

Why do we need reduced working hours?

Eight-hour working hours were introduced in Poland 107 years ago and free Saturdays more than 50 years ago. Much has changed in that time. New technologies have significantly increased the efficiency of work, with many countries already reducing working hours.  

Despite the lack of regulation, some employers are reducing working hours in their establishments on their own initiative. This is happening in both the private and public sectors. Examples include Herbapol Poznań and the Town Halls in Włocławek, Ostrzeszów, Świebodzice, Szczecinek or Leszno, as well as in many companies subordinate to these local authorities.

The benefits are many. Employees can enjoy a better work-life balance, more opportunities for self-development, longer working lives, and run a lower risk of burnout. Employers, in turn, can see an increase in employee efficiency and creativity, minimisation of waste, a decrease in errors and accidents, and greater competitiveness in the labour market.