Government proposes 4950 zł minimum wage for 2027

9 August 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

The government proposed a 4950 zł gross minimum wage from Jan 1, 2027. Read how minimum wage 2027 Poland affects workers and expats.

The government proposed a new floor for wages, the minimum wage 2027 Poland, to start on 1 January 2027. The cabinet offered 4,950 zł gross monthly and 32.30 zł gross hourly. Consequently, the move affects about 1.58 million workers.

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What the proposal says and why it matters

The government set a concrete figure on 9 June 2026. Currently the national minimum stands at 4,806 zł gross. Therefore the cabinet proposes a 144 zł monthly increase, or three percent. Moreover, the yearly gross gain would equal 1,728 zł for a full-time worker. However, this number remains a proposal. The Council for Social Dialogue failed to reach consensus. In addition, trade unions demanded at least 5,200 zł gross. Meanwhile employers backed the government figure.

Procedural steps and key dates

The law requires social partners to negotiate. If they cannot agree, the Council of Ministers issues a regulation by 15 September 2026. Consequently, the government cannot set a lower number than the one it already proposed to the council. Therefore you should treat 4,950 zł as a likely outcome, but not final. In addition, only one change looks likely next year. The Finance Ministry forecasts inflation at 2.5 percent for 2027. Therefore the two-step hike mechanism will probably not trigger. As a result, the change would take place on 1 January 2027 only.

Wider economic and regional context

History shows rapid rises in 2023 and 2024. For example, the minimum grew from 1,750 zł in 2015 to 4,806 zł in 2026. Moreover, by 2027 the ministry expects an average wage near 9,971 zł. Consequently, the proposed minimum would equal about 49.6 percent of average pay. Employers warn that high minimum wages raise labour costs. In addition, small firms and poorer regions feel the pressure most. However Warsaw and large cities see higher average salaries. Therefore the single national minimum has uneven effects across regions.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you work in Poland, know your contract type. An umowa o pracę is a standard employment contract with social security (ZUS) and health insurance via NFZ (public health fund). In contrast, civil contracts (umowa zlecenie or umowa o dzieło) may get the minimum hourly rate. Also, your taxable income and employer contributions change when the minimum rises. Keep your PESEL number (national ID) handy for tax and social records. If you have doubts, consult a payroll specialist or your HR office.

Unions still press for 5,200 zł. Therefore negotiations may resume, but the deadline forces a government decision. Also note that a higher minimum affects more than net pay. It changes contributions to social security and base amounts for some benefits. Consequently both workers and employers should prepare budgets now.

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