Employers, including those from the private sector, will be able to apply for the ministerial programme and receive funding, provided that they have been in business for at least 12 months and at least 75% of their personnel work under employment contracts.

The maximum amount of support for a single pilot project will be PLN 1 million (however, the cost of the project per employee covered by the pilot programme may not exceed PLN 20,000).

The pilot programme provides for testing various models of reduced working time. This may include reducing the number of working days per week, reducing the number of working hours on individual days, reducing the number of working hours through additional days off per month or granting additional days off in the form of holiday leave. However, the condition is that the project must cover at least 50% of the personnel and that there must be no deterioration in the pay and working conditions of participants during its implementation. Employers will also have to maintain employment at a level not lower than 90% of the initial level.

Applications can be submitted until 15 September. Detailed information is available on the website of the Ministry.