Minimum salary levels increase for employment and residency permits
14 Jan 19
POLAND
IMPACT – MEDIUM
What is the change? Poland has updated minimum salary requirements for workers on local employment contracts, posted workers and ICT mobility permit holders. Authorities have also put in place new minimum income thresholds for residency permits.
What does the change mean? Foreign workers on local employment contracts must earn at least 2,250 złoty (about US$601 or €524) per month. Posted workers and ICT mobility permit holders must be paid according to the applicable regional salary minimum. Residency permit holders must be supported by an income of at least 528 zloty per month.
- Implementation time frame: The new monthly minimum wage took effect Jan. 1. The minimum salary thresholds for posted-workers work permits and ICT residency permits took effect in November, and the new income thresholds for residency permits took effect in October.
- Business impact: Businesses may see an increase in labor costs if salaries need to be adjusted to reflect the new thresholds.
Additional information: The salary minimum for local employment contracts affects foreigners hired locally throughout Poland, i.e., those holding Type A work permits or residency permits with right to work. The minimum salary threshold for posted workers (work permits C, D and E for assignments) and ICT mobility permit holders depends on the administrative region, or voivodship, where the applicant applies for the permit. Finally, the minimum income thresholds for residency permits apply to all foreigners applying for residency permits, including dependent family members.
| Work permits for local hires | |
| Location | Salary minimum |
| Anywhere in Poland | 2,250 zloty (PLN) per month |
| Work permits for posted workers, EU ICT mobility permits | |
| Location | Salary minimum |
| Lower Silesia | 3,080.03 PLN per month |
| Kuyavia-Pomerania (Bydgoszcz) | 2,602.05 PLN per month |
| Lublin (Lublin) | 2,677.00 PLN per month |
| Lubusz (Gorzów Wielkopolski) | 2,628.18 PLN per month |
| Łódź Province (Łódź) | 2,748.18 PLN per month |
| Lesser Poland (Kraków) | 2,868.15 PLN per month |
| Masovia (Warszawa) | 3,653.36 PLN per month |
| Opole (Opole) | 2,746.51 PLN per month |
| Subcarpathia (Rzeszów) | 2,579.30 PLN per month |
| Podlaskie (Białystok) | 2,670.66 PLN per month |
| Pomerania (Gdańsk) | 2,948.18 PLN per month |
| Silesia (Katowice) | 2,973.21 PLN per month |
| Świętokrzyskie (Kielce) | 2,593.96 PLN per month |
| Warmia-Masuria (Olsztyn) | 2,548.92 PLN per month |
| Greater Poland (Poznań) | 2,756.47 PLN per month |
| West Pomerania (Szczecin) | 2,723.60 PLN per month |
| Residency permits for foreigners | |
| Location | Income Threshold |
| Anywhere in Poland | 528 PLN per person per month |
Analysis & Comments: Employers should be sure to account for the new salary minimums when planning their budgets. Foreigners who are submitting applications for residency permits need to be sure that the new minimum income thresholds per family member are satisfied. Polish authorities are expected to announce new EU Blue Card salary thresholds in February.
Source: Deloitte LLP. Deloitte LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC303675 and its registered office at 1 New Street Square, London EC4A 3HQ, United Kingdom.
