Can my employer pay me less than the minimum wage?
No: pay can't be lower than the minimum wage. In 2026 the minimum wage (full-time) is 4,806 zł gross (about 3,606 zł net), and the minimum hourly rate for mandate and service contracts is 31.40 zł gross. The amounts apply for all of 2026 — there's no mid-year rise this year, as forecast inflation fell below 5%. The employer can't set pay below these thresholds for a full-time worker; for part-time the minimum is calculated proportionally. The minimum pay doesn't include, among others, the overtime premium, a jubilee award, severance or the night-work premium. If you get less, you can claim a top-up.
📋 The rules
- Minimum pay 2026: 4,806 zł gross (about 3,606 zł net)
- Hourly rate (mandate): 31.40 zł gross
- The amounts apply for all of 2026
- Part-time: minimum pay proportionally
- Minimum excludes, among others, overtime and night premium
🔓 Exceptions
- Part-time: minimum wage calculated proportionally to the hours
- Contract for specific work: the minimum hourly rate as a rule doesn't apply
- Premiums (overtime, night, jubilee, severance): outside the minimum amount
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Paying wages below the minimum is a labour-law breach. The worker can claim a top-up to the full amount (with interest) and report it to the National Labour Inspectorate, which can fine the employer for an offence against workers' rights, or file a claim in the labour court. Remember the minimum hourly rate also protects mandate workers, and the hours worked must be recorded. To check you're getting at least the minimum: compare your gross pay with the current amount (allowing for your hours), check no banned premiums were counted into the base, and keep the contract and payslips. If pay is understated, report it to the inspectorate or court.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
How much is the minimum wage in 2026?
Full-time it's 4,806 zł gross, about 3,606 zł net (the net figure is indicative and depends on the worker's situation). The minimum hourly rate for mandate and service contracts is 31.40 zł gross. The amounts apply for all of 2026.
Will there be a mid-year minimum-wage rise in 2026?
No. In 2026 a single minimum-wage amount applies for the whole year, with no rise mid-year. A second in-year rise is introduced when forecast inflation exceeds 5% — in 2026 it fell below that threshold.
Does the minimum wage apply part-time too?
Yes, but calculated proportionally to the hours. At half-time the minimum is half the full-time amount, at quarter-time a quarter, and so on. The mandate hourly rate, however, applies regardless of the number of hours.
What counts towards the minimum wage?
Most pay components count towards the minimum, but not all. Excluded are, among others, the overtime premium, the night-work premium, a jubilee award and the retirement/disability severance. These components are due on top of the minimum amount.
What if the employer pays below the minimum?
You can claim a top-up to the full amount with interest. You can report it to the National Labour Inspectorate, which can fine the employer, or file a claim in the labour court. It's worth keeping the contract and payslips as evidence of understated pay.
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