From 2026, Poland is changing the rules for calculating seniority: what Ukrainians need to know

Poland is changing the rules for calculating seniority from 2026. Find out which periods will be taken into account, how to obtain a ZUS certificate, and what Ukrainians working in Poland need to do to ensure that their seniority is fully credited

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From 2026, Poland will change its system for calculating length of service. The president has signed an amendment to the Labor Code that will eliminate inequality between employees working under employment contracts and those who perform work under civil law agreements or are self-employed. This was reported by inpoland.net.pl.

How will the seniority calculation system change?

From January 1, 2026, not only periods of official employment but also other forms of professional activity will be counted toward seniority. This will allow millions of people to access benefits that were previously reserved only for those who worked “on a salary.”

In particular, the following periods will now be counted towards seniority:

● running your own business;

● cooperation with a person who runs a business;

● suspension of business to care for a child;

● work under commission, service or agency contracts;

● membership in agricultural production cooperatives;

● paid work abroad (except for official employment outside Poland).

Thus, seniority will now reflect a person's actual professional experience, regardless of the form of employment.

New benefits for employees

The reform will open up access to more social guarantees. After the recalculation of seniority, many employees will be able to claim:

● longer paid leave;

● anniversary bonuses;

● seniority bonuses;

● increased pension payments.

This also means that people who have worked for years on the basis of civil law contracts will be able to prove their actual experience and receive the corresponding benefits from their employer.

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When will the new rules come into effect

The implementation will take place in two stages:

● for public sector employees — from January 1, 2026;

● for the private sector — six months after the official announcement of the reform.

This will give authorities, businesses, and employees time to prepare for the changes and adapt their document management systems.

How to confirm employment history under the new rules?

A certificate confirming the periods that will be counted towards employment history will be issued by ZUS. If the institution is unable to confirm certain periods due to their age or lack of data, the employee will be able to submit their own documents certifying the fact of employment. Periods of paid work abroad will be confirmed by employees themselves.

Important: applications to ZUS will only be accepted after the law comes into force. The relevant forms will appear in the PUE/eZUS electronic system from January 1, 2026.

Employees will have two years — until 2028 — to provide their employer with documents confirming their increased length of service.

In case of doubts or disagreements with the employer or ZUS, Ukrainians can seek help from Visit Ukraine lawyers, who advise on labor rights, legalization of work, and preparation of documents in Poland.

We remind you! Many Ukrainians in Poland have found work, but not everyone knows how to properly terminate an employment relationship in another country. Read how to properly resign from a job in Poland in our previous article.

Photo: tsn.ua

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