# Polish student employment and income regulations

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/polish-student-employment-and-income-regulations
> Updated: 2026-10-21T11:45:45.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 3.

Recent developments in Poland involve legislative and regulatory frameworks affecting student employment and income generation.

A draft bill regarding internships has been published, aiming to increase legal certainty for small and medium-sized enterprises and prevent unfair competition. The proposal includes requiring fixed-term employment contracts for internships with a maximum duration of six months. It also suggests a minimum monthly remuneration set at 65 percent of the national minimum wage, with specific increases for minor interns. To ensure compliance, the bill proposes fines for organizers ranging from 2,000 PLN to 60,000 PLN.

Expanding on these efforts, the Polish Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy, led by Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, has introduced a legislative project aimed at eliminating unpaid internships in the open labor market. Entered into the Council of Ministers' legislative schedule on September 16, 2025, the proposal seeks to prevent employers from using internships to reduce labor costs by having students and graduates perform duties similar to full-time employees without compensation.

In discussions regarding vocational training, entrepreneur Janusz Lewandowski noted a gap between educational programs and industry needs, stating that while students use modern CNC machinery, they often lack fundamental skills like reading technical drawings. Lewandowski also noted that the high level of commitment and pedagogical qualifications required for training makes businesses hesitant to take on apprentices.

Separately, regulations for 2026 outline options for students to engage in unregistered activity. This allows individuals to generate income without establishing a formal company, provided they have not operated a business in the previous 60 months and the activity does not require specific licenses. For 2026, the quarterly revenue limit for such activity is set at 10,813.50 PLN.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-21: Poland proposes legislation to end unpaid internships

Poland's Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy has proposed a law to ban unpaid internships to prevent the exploitation of young workers in the open labor market.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/poland-proposes-legislation-to-end-unpaid-internships

### 2026-10-17: Poland: Unregistered activity options for students in 2026

Students in Poland can utilize unregistered activity in 2026, earning up to 10,813.50 PLN per quarter without registering a company or paying ZUS, provided they report income via PIT-36.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/poland-unregistered-activity-options-for-students-in-2026

### 2026-10-13: Poland proposes new internship laws and minimum wage protections

Poland is drafting new internship laws that would mandate fixed-term employment contracts, guarantee 65% of the minimum wage for interns, and introduce fines for employers up to 60,000 PLN.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/poland-proposes-new-internship-laws-and-minimum-wage-protections

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Cite as: Polish student employment and income regulations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/polish-student-employment-and-income-regulations