Information on Safe Migration
We promote the role of women in society,
revealing her personal potential, professionally
assisting in the realization of civil and social rights
revealing her personal potential, professionally
assisting in the realization of civil and social rights
What to do if you encounter an unscrupulous employer?
We often receive requests from people who have encountered fraud by employers. For example, they went to work in Poland, completed the work, but did not receive payment. What to do in such cases? We will look into specific examples.
It is important to understand the types of contracts that an employer can enter into with an employee in order to know where to turn in each specific case. Types of employment contracts in Poland: - umowa o prace,
- contract for work (Umowa o dzielo)
- and Umowa zlecenie (contract-order).
Umowa o prace is the only type of employment contract governed by Labour Law. This is the most advantageous form of contract for the employee.
If you are employed by a Polish employer with an employment contract (umowa o prace), then payment of wages is a legally established obligation of the employer. In accordance with the provisions of the Labour Code (specifically §1 of Article 22), wages must be paid for the periods specified in the contract, but not less than once a month. If there are violations of labour legislation on the part of the employer, then you need to file a complaint with the Labour Inspectorate at the location of your employer. Here you can find contacts for Polish labour inspectorates:
The complaint can be sent:
- by regular mail,
- by fax,
- to the email address of the inspectorate.
In the complaint, you must indicate:
1. the name of the employer's company, their surname and name, place of residence or location;
2. a description of the violations of labour rights (for example, you were not paid wages for a certain period);
3. evidence of the violations.
4. the name and address of the complainant (your actual details).
For more detailed information, you can refer to the link.
You can also go to the Labor Court (Polish, Sad pracy) – a special judicial authority that deals with cases related to Labor legislation.
We strongly recommend that while working in Poland (as well as in other countries), collect evidence that can later confirm your words. This can be: an employment contract, other documents that you receive from the employer, emails, correspondence with the employer in messengers, photographs or videos from your workplace and the work performed, etc. Get the consent of those who can act as witnesses of violations if necessary.
Umowa o dzielo and zlecenie are forms of temporary or volume-based contracts that fall under the definition of civil law contracts. These contracts are not regulated by the Labor Code and are governed by the Civil Code.
However, it is civil law forms that employers often impose on employees. If you had a contract of contract (civil law contract), then such issues are handled by the Civil Proceedings – non-specialized courts that are appealed to for all civil claims. It is in them that cases under civil law contracts will have to be handled.
If you have any questions, you can call the hotline for safe travel abroad:
