Pay and working conditions in European countries

Thinking about working in another European country? For each of 32 countries – all 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom – you will find the key labour market figures, where the jobs are, how to apply, pay and working conditions, student jobs and what to do in your first weeks. General advice on job search, your CV and your rights: How to find a job abroad – 10 practical guides »

Found: 1

Poland

Minimum wage: PLN 4,806 gross a month, and a minimum hourly rate (minimalna stawka godzinowa) of PLN 31.40 gross – both from 1 January 2026.
Contract: you must receive a written employment contract (umowa o pracę) – or a written confirmation of its terms – before you start work. Check which type of contract you are offered: the rules below apply to employment contracts.
Working time: up to 8 hours a day and on average 40 hours a week. Including overtime, you may work on average no more than 48 hours a week, and you are entitled to at least 11 hours of rest every day.
Overtime: at most 150 hours a year for the employer’s particular needs. You get a 100% bonus for overtime at night, on Sundays and public holidays, and a 50% bonus on other days – or time off instead (hour for hour if you ask for it, 1.5 hours per hour if the employer decides).
Holidays: 20 days of paid leave a year if you have been employed for less than 10 years, and 26 days after that. A university degree counts as 8 years towards this period.

Common questions about job applications and interviews

Key figures: Eurostat (population on 1 January 2026; unemployment and employment rates 2025; minimum wages July 2026); for the United Kingdom – Office for National Statistics; for Liechtenstein – national statistics. Country information: EURES – Living and working conditions, public employment services and the official government websites listed under each country. Rules, thresholds and amounts can change – check the official sources before you move. Updated: October 2026.

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