Poland plans labor and social benefit reforms

The Polish government is advancing several legislative changes affecting workers and families. A key proposal from the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy aims to automate the renewal of the ‘800 plus’ child benefit program. Starting in the 2027/2028 period, ZUS would automatically extend benefits based on existing data, removing the need for annual applications unless family circumstances change.

Labor regulations are also undergoing significant shifts. New rules for sick leave (L4) are expected to introduce stricter obligations for insured individuals, including mandatory participation in therapy or rehabilitation if recovery is likely. Additionally, from January 2027, a unified benefit period will be introduced, allowing employees to potentially work in one job while remaining on sick leave in another, provided the nature of the work allows it.

Other upcoming changes include a reform of the National Health Fund (NFZ) SMS notification system to provide more detailed medical appointment reminders, and new regulations regarding mobbing compensation, which will set minimum payouts based on multiples of the minimum wage. Furthermore, the government is working on a project to allow identity cards to be collected at different municipal offices than where the application was filed.