The government has published the assumptions for PIP reform

The government has published the draft law assumptions for amending the PIP Act, which are the result of the need to meet the milestones written into the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

According to the assumptions:

• district labour inspectors will be able to make decisions on the existence of an employment relationship (these decisions will be appealable in labour courts),
• remote PIP inspections will be possible, and
• the maximum fines that the PIP will be able to impose will be at least doubled.

You can read more about the planned changes on our portal.

The government has adopted a draft law on collective labour agreements

The Council of Ministers has approved a draft law on collective bargaining and agreements. The new legislation is intended to facilitate agreements between employers and trade unions, as well as simplify their registration. Parties will be able to decide whether to conclude an agreement for a fixed term (with the possibility of extension) or indefinitely.

Key changes include the introduction of electronic registration of agreements via an ICT system and the option to cover several employers with a single agreement. The draft also provides for an open catalogue of matters that can be included in the agreements while maintaining the principle of ‘non-penalisation’ of employees. In the event of a dispute, the parties will also have access to an impartial mediator. The government has dropped the controversial obligation to initiate bargaining, instead opting for voluntariness and a plan to promote the development of agreements.

Plans are in place to tighten controls on sick leave certificates

The Ministry of Labour has referred a draft law to the Council of Ministers that aims to strengthen the supervision of sick leave certificates and clarify the provisions relating to sickness and care benefits.

Among other things, the draft provides for ZUS to extend its control to individuals who no longer have sickness insurance but continue to receive benefits. For the first time, ZUS inspectors will be permitted to request that individuals present documents to confirm their identity. Additionally, the conditions for losing the right to sickness benefits will be clarified. ZUS will also be given more precise tools to verify that sick leave certificates are being used for their intended purpose.

Participation in the reduced working hours pilot project and the employer's tax and contribution obligations

The deadline for submission of applications to participate in the reduced working hours pilot project organised by the Ministry of Labour is 15 September 2025. Applications can be completed using a special generator.

The Ministry of Labour has indicated that no special exemptions or reductions have been provided for tax or contribution dues under the pilot project. This means that the funds received must be accounted for in accordance with the general rules.

In the first few days after the call for applications was launched, more than 100 applications were received and more than 600 are in the process of being completed.

ZUS will not be taking over sick pay 'from day one' after all

According to media reports, the government has allegedly abandoned – at least for the time being – its plan to amend sickness benefit regulations. The changes aimed to relieve employers of the obligation to pay sick leave and transfer the responsibility for providing benefits from the first day of incapacity to work to ZUS.

The reform has reportedly been put on hold due to the significant cost and risk of abuse of the new regulations.

ZUS is becoming increasingly effective at inspecting L4

In the first half of 2025, ZUS conducted 227,000 sick-leave certificate checks. As a result, the institution withheld 14,800 benefits totalling over PLN 22.2 million. Additionally, post-employment benefits were reduced by PLN 128.3 million. In total, the Social Insurance Institution 'recovered' PLN 150.5 million in this way.

During the same period in 2024, 260,800 checks were conducted, resulting in the recovery of a total of PLN 117.5 million, partly due to reductions in post-employment benefits.