Less work, same salary. Government is investigating a fresh occupation model

The Ministry of Labour launches the largest program in Poland to test reduced working time without reducing wages. Now. since 14 August 2025 entrepreneurs from all over Poland will be able to apply for government funding to implement a shorter working week. Tests will begin on 1 January 2026 and will proceed throughout the year.

Pilotage alternatively of changing the code. Ministry wants to see what works

The thought of shortening the word of office with full pay has long been circulating in public debate. Now it takes a circumstantial shape. Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk announced launch pilot programme financed by the Labour Fundto test different models of organization of working time in Polish companies.

The programme aims to evaluation of the effectiveness of the various options for reduced working time, for example by reducing the number of hours per day or introducing an additional day off. As the minister pointed out, the ministry will not impose a single strategy – it will be the employers who decide how to organize the work.

Programme budget: PLN 50 million for revolution in work organisation

For piloting a full of PLN 50 million is plannedof which PLN 10 million will be spent in 2025. Under the programme, each applicant will be able to get up to PLN 1 million co-financingwith a maximum of PLN 20 1000 per employee.

Applications may be submitted 14 August to 15 September 2025. The call will be settled by 15 Octoberand by the end of the year, the Ministry will sign contracts with qualified entities.

Who can take part in the pilot?

The programme is addressed to various entities – from private companies to local governments and foundations. To qualify, the organisation must:

• act at least 12 months before submitting an application,
• employ a minimum of 75% of employees under employment contracts (or equivalent: appointments, appointments),
• maintain at least 90% of employment during the duration of the programme,
• ensure that wages are not reduced or working conditions deteriorated.

That means that companies based on employment on alleged junk contracts They won't be able to usage the program.

When does a shorter week of work start?

Although recruitment lasts in the summer, the actual shortening of working time will begin on 1 January 2026 and it will last for the full 2026. After its completion, the ministry announces detailed analysis of results and possible conclusions for the future – possibly even draft amendment of the Labour Code.

Poland in the European vanguard?

As noted Agnieszka Dziemianovich-Bąk, is the first specified program in our region:

"This will be the first pilot of reduced working time in this part of Europe, the first in our region, the first so wide pilotage in Poland. We want to encourage investigating of solutions in various types of organisations."

Thanks to this Poland joins the group of countries that test a four-day working week or a reduced number of hours per week, without financial losses to employees. specified projects were successfully implemented in the UK, Iceland and fresh Zealand.

What about wages and employment security?

The most crucial rule of piloting is that employees must not lose financially. Wages are to stay unchanged, regardless of the model of shortening the word of office adopted. By introducing shorter working time, companies may not exempt nor reduce employment by more than 10%.

Thus, the Ministry of Labour wants to avoid a situation where the programme would be utilized for staff cuts or worsening of working conditions under the cover of "organization innovation".

What's next? Tests Before Possible Law Reform

The Ministry does not hide that the success of the pilot program may be the starting point to a wider improvement of the working time rules. For now, however, the most crucial goal is to collect data, to learn about economical and social impacts and to make recommendations.

If the task is successful, a short word with full remuneration may become a viable legislative proposal in the following years. The final decision will depend on the evaluation results and the labour marketplace situation.