Poland's Labor Inspectorate begins targeting civil law contracts

The Polish National Labor Inspectorate (PIP) has begun sending letters to companies recommending the voluntary conversion of civil law contracts into standard employment contracts. These letters, which encourage self-audit, are being sent to entities identified through data shared by the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) and the National Revenue Administration (KAS).

This action follows a PIP reform that took effect on July 8, 2026, expanding inspectors' powers to verify whether civil law contracts or B2B arrangements are being used to replace permanent employment. The reform introduces a two-stage procedure: inspectors first issue an order to rectify violations, and if the employer fails to comply, an administrative decision can be issued to formally establish an employment relationship.

While the reform allows for remote inspections and increased fines, a specialized algorithm designed to automate the selection of companies for control is not expected to launch until January 1, 2027. Some economic experts have expressed concern that the current method of targeting companies based on database information, without explicitly stating if specific irregularities were found, may cause uncertainty among employers.