On 2 April, the President signed an amendment to the Act on the National Labour Inspectorate (PIP) and immediately referred it to the Constitutional Tribunal for subsequent review.

Regardless of this, the act has been published in the Journal of Laws and will enter into force on 8 July 2026. It will apply in its current form, unless the Constitutional Tribunal declares it unconstitutional.

Key provisions of the act:

• PIP gains the authority to issue administrative decisions establishing the existence of an employment relationship. Before issuing such a decision, it must ask the parties to change the manner of performing a civil law contract or conclude an employment contract. These decisions will have effects in labour law, personal income tax and social security contributions only for the future (there is no retroactive effect). Employers may appeal to the Labour Court.
• Increased fines for violations of employee rights – the maximum penalty may reach PLN 90,000.
• PIP may conduct remote inspections.
• Information exchange between PIP, the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) and the National Revenue Administration (KAS) is ensured, improving inspection effectiveness and targeting.
• Employers may request interpretations from the Chief Labour Inspector regarding civil law contracts. The interpretation will determine whether a contract may remain civil law in nature or should be considered an employment contract.

The completion of the legislative process for this regulation requires organisations to promptly adapt their practices to the amended provisions.

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