Poland Immigrant Info

Polish Employment Contracts Explained

Umowa o pracę, umowa zlecenie, umowa o dzieło, B2B — what each one means for your pay, holidays, and security.

Updated 2026-01-20 · 1 min read

Polish Employment Contracts Explained
On this page
  1. The three main contracts
  2. Umowa o pracę (employment contract)
  3. Umowa zlecenie (mandate contract)
  4. Umowa o dzieło (contract for work)
  5. B2B (sole trader)
  6. What to check

The three main contracts

Umowa o pracę (employment contract)

  • Governed by the Labour Code.
  • Minimum wage, paid holidays (20–26 days), sick leave, notice periods.
  • Full ZUS contributions (pension, disability, sickness, health).
  • Trial, fixed-term, or indefinite varieties.

Umowa zlecenie (mandate contract)

  • Civil-law contract; more flexible.
  • May include paid leave and ZUS, but not guaranteed.
  • Common for students, part-time, and some service roles.

Umowa o dzieło (contract for work)

  • For a specific deliverable.
  • No ZUS, no leave; the weakest in protections.
  • Used for freelance creative or one-off tasks.

B2B (sole trader)

You register a JDG (sole proprietorship), issue VAT invoices, and pay your own ZUS and tax. Common in IT. Higher gross, more responsibility.

What to check

  • Gross vs net (brutto / netto) — always confirm net pay.
  • Trial period length (up to 3 months).
  • Notice period (okres wypowiedzenia).
  • Non-compete clauses (zakaz konkurencji).

FAQ

Which contract is best?
Umowa o pracę (employment contract) gives the strongest legal protections: paid leave, notice periods, and full social insurance.
Is B2B the same as self-employment?
Effectively yes: you register a JDG and invoice the client. You handle your own ZUS, taxes, and accounting.

Sources

  1. gov.pl — Types of contracts (updated 2026-01-12)

This article is informational and not legal advice. Always confirm with the relevant authority.

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