The labour market in Poland is on the verge of significant transformation; we are finally stepping into the 21st century. What exactly do we mean? On 12 May 2025, two key acts drafted by the Ministry of Labour were promulgated in the Official Journal of the Republic of Poland. These are the Act on the Conditions for the Admissibility of Employing Foreigners in the Territory of the Republic of Poland and the Act on the Labour Market and Employment Services.

The new legislation, which will come into force on 1 June 2025, addresses the genuine needs and expectations of both jobseekers and employers. Poles and foreigners residing in our country.

These acts constitute the implementation of milestones set out in the National Recovery Plan. The reforms they introduce will affect 340 district labour offices, 16 provincial labour offices, the State Labour Inspectorate, the Border Guard, employment agencies, training institutions, the Voluntary Labour Corps — and more.

Labour Market and Employment Services Act

The requirement to register with the employment office corresponding to one’s registered address — rather than actual place of residence — has long posed a significant barrier for jobseekers. This is set to change. The Labour Market and Employment Services Act also abolishes age limits for access to various labour market instruments, such as the highly sought-after ‘settlement voucher’. Additionally, unemployment benefits will be paid in full, regardless of the period of entitlement.

The Act also provides for the implementation of a new ICT system, which will enable individuals to access support online and improve access to quality employment opportunities.

What else will change?

The Labour Market and Employment Services Act also introduces:

• the possibility of subsidising the employment of pensioners;
• the option for farmers to register with job centres;
• priority support for unemployed individuals from large families and single-parent households;
• enhanced efficiency and accessibility of the National Training Fund;
• the introduction of an education loan of up to 400 per cent of the average wage.

Act on the Conditions for the Admissibility of Employing Foreigners in the Territory of the Republic of Poland

It is worth noting that the Act primarily safeguards Polish workers, ensuring they are not exposed to unfair competition or the risk of job loss. At the same time, it offers protection to foreigners against exploitation and breaches of the law. For entrepreneurs facing labour shortages, the Act introduces clear and user-friendly regulations.

One of the most important objectives of the Act on the conditions of admissibility of work entrusted to foreigners on the territory of the Republic of Poland is to counteract fraudulent work permits for entry into the Schengen area. This will be achieved mainly through the introduction of new functionalities in IT systems, a greater role for public employment services in the authorisation process, and improved integration between the IT systems of various institutions.

And that’s not all. The Act grants starosts the authority to establish a list of occupations and types of work for which work permits will not be issued to foreigners seeking employment in a given county. This will apply, for instance, in cases of collective redundancies or the closure of a major enterprise within a particular district. This new mechanism will replace the inefficient and burdensome ‘labour market test’ procedure currently required of employers.