Umowa o pracę, zlecenie or o dzieło: which work contract to choose in Poland
What exactly you sign decides whether you get paid holiday, paid sick leave, pension contributions and protection from sudden dismissal. The three most common contract types are very different things, even if the take-home pay looks similar.
Umowa o pracę — employment contract
The only contract covered by the Labour Code (Kodeks pracy). It gives the most protection:
- paid holiday — 20 days a year, or 26 after 10 years of total work history;
- paid sick leave (zwolnienie lekarskie, L4);
- a guaranteed minimum wage and extra pay for overtime and night work;
- notice periods that depend on how long you have worked for this employer;
- full ZUS contributions — pension entitlement and health insurance.
Umowa zlecenie — contract of mandate
A civil-law contract: you carry out a commission rather than hold a post. The law does not guarantee holiday or paid days off, but the minimum hourly rate applies, and in most cases the client pays ZUS contributions for you, including health insurance.
Voluntary sickness insurance (ubezpieczenie chorobowe) under a zlecenie can be added separately — ask for it, otherwise sick leave (L4) will not be paid.
Umowa o dzieło — contract for a specific work
A contract for a specific result: a translation, a design, a renovation, a written text. There are usually no ZUS contributions, so take-home pay is higher, but there is no pension entitlement, no health insurance and no minimum rate.
If you are offered “o dzieło” for ordinary day-to-day work — a warehouse, production, cleaning — it is a sign the employer is saving on your contributions. The labour inspectorate can find such a contract unlawful.
Working with a PESEL UKR
- You do not need a separate work permit: with an active UKR status you can work legally.
- The employer must notify the powiatowy urząd pracy (district labour office) online that it has hired you. Ask whether the notification has been filed — without it your work is formally illegal.
- Sign the contract before you start work, in a language you understand or with a translation. Keep your copy.
How to check a recruitment agency
- A legal agency must be entered in the KRAZ register — you can check it for free on stor.praca.gov.pl.
- An agency may not charge candidates for finding them work. A demand to pay “for the vacancy”, “for paperwork” or “for a place” is a red flag.
- Never hand over your passport “for safekeeping” to an agency or an employer.
Work out your take-home pay for each contract →
Frequently asked questions
Which contract is best for the worker?
Umowa o pracę: only it gives paid holiday, guaranteed sick pay and protection from dismissal without notice.
Does work on an umowa zlecenie count towards my pension?
Yes, if pension contributions are paid to ZUS under the contract. Under an umowa o dzieło contributions are usually not paid, so it does not count.
Where can I turn if my employer does not pay?
To the State Labour Inspectorate (Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy, PIP) — it accepts complaints and gives free advice, including in Ukrainian.