The PIP labour inspectorate reform: what changed for people on civil contracts or B2B

Poland has begun its biggest reform of the State Labour Inspectorate (Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy, PIP) in many years. The act of 11 March 2026 gave inspectors new powers and the key ones came into force on 8 July 2026. The main news for workers: an inspector can now not only fine but also change a "junk" contract that merely pretends to be civil into a real employment one. Let us explain in simple words what it means and what to expect, especially if you work on a contract of mandate (umowa zlecenie) or B2B.

What exactly changed

• A decision on the existence of an employment relationship. If a person actually works as an employee (follows instructions, at a set time and place) while the contract is called civil, the inspector can state that it is an employment relationship.
• Higher fines for violating workers' rights.
• Remote inspections. Checks can also be run online, including by data transmission.
• Data exchange between PIP, ZUS and the tax service.
• Individual explanations. An employer can ask the Chief Labour Inspector in writing to explain whether their contract is safe (for a fee of about PLN 40).

How it works in practice

According to legal outlets the definition of an employment relationship has not changed: what matters is how the work is actually done, not the name of the contract. If an inspector sees signs of employment he first issues an order to remove the violations. Only when the employer ignores it does the path to an administrative decision open. The decision, as a rule, works for the future: consequences (including ZUS contributions and labour protection) arise from the moment it is issued. Retroactively an employment contract can be obtained only through a court. The decision can be appealed to a labour court and, under the draft act, a month from delivery is given for it; the deadline is worth checking against the final text.

What is said about the timing of inspections

The new Chief Labour Inspector Janusz Krasoń has said that until the end of 2026 PIP will focus first of all on workers' complaints. Planned inspections under the new rules will begin in 2027. So the coming months are a time when the response will mostly be to reports.

What about foreigners

The reform introduces no separate rules for foreigners: the general norms apply to every civil contract, including a contract of mandate. But for foreigners the question is especially sensitive because the legality of work (a permit, an oświadczenie or another basis) depends on the contract. Also from 8 July 2026 an employer may change a civil contract into an employment one without a new oświadczenie or permit if the other conditions do not change. We wrote about this in a separate article on the zezwolenie and the oświadczenie.

Who gains and who does not

• Workers. An employment contract gives holiday, sick pay, protection from dismissal and full pension contributions. If you have sat on a contract of mandate for years doing an employee's work, you get a chance to obtain better terms.
• Employers with honest practice. Less competition from those who save on contributions.
• Those for whom a contract of mandate really is advantageous. For example students under 26: for them the absence of contributions gives more in hand. An employer may not want to change the contract for them if the work really is civil in nature.

Signs you are made to "play" a civil contract

• You are given a shift schedule like staff and cannot refuse the shifts.
• You work under a foreman or manager rather than carrying out a separate commission.
• The tools, the workplace and the rules are provided by the employer.
• You work every day for the same "client" on B2B and have no clients of your own.

What a worker should do

1. Reread the contract and compare it with how you actually work.
2. Collect evidence: schedules, messages, photos or orders about shifts.
3. Ask the employer whether they plan to move to an employment contract and ask for the answer in writing.
4. If you are forced into unfavourable terms or pressured, complain to PIP: you can do it online or in writing.
5. Do not sign anything you do not understand and do not agree to "unofficial" work.

Useful Polish words

• Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy (PIP) — the State Labour Inspectorate.
• umowa o pracę — an employment contract.
• stosunek pracy — an employment relationship.
• skarga — a complaint; kontrola — an inspection.

A phrase for a complaint: Chcę zgłosić naruszenie moich praw pracowniczych. — "I want to report a violation of my employment rights".

Summary

The PIP reform is a chance for those who do an employee's work on a civil contract and a signal to dishonest employers. But the details, deadlines and procedures depend on the final text of the act and may be clarified. The information is given from open sources as of 22 October 2026; before acting check the act of 11 March 2026, the PIP pages or consult a lawyer.