Ukrainians in Poland Have Been Warned About the Risks Involved in Finding Employment
Ukrainians looking for work in Poland may encounter unclear employment conditions. Common risks include being paid “under the table,” hidden bonuses, unexpected deductions, and problems with ZUS registration and paperwork.
Experts have identified 10 situations that could cause problems for Ukrainian workers in Poland.
An employer may pay part of an employee’s earnings officially and promise to pay the rest in cash. For example, documents may state a gross salary of 4,806 zlotys, while an additional 1,500–2,000 zlotys is offered off the books.
In such a situation, the employee risks not receiving the unofficial portion of their salary, and social security contributions are not paid on these funds.
Another risk is the lack of registration with ZUS, the social and health insurance system. An employee may be told that registration will take place later or that they can work for the first month without being registered.
Sometimes a person only discovers the problem after falling ill or undergoing an insurance check.
An employee may also be offered the option to skip the mandatory medical examination and obtain the necessary certificate through other means. Using forged documents can lead to problems with legalization and result in criminal consequences.
Manipulation of tax residency can be a separate issue.
A person may be asked to state in documents that they are not a tax resident of Poland, even though the actual circumstances indicate otherwise. Tax status, in particular, depends on the center of vital interests and the duration of stay in the country.
Another risk is fictitious student status. An employee may be offered the option to obtain student status that they do not actually possess.
Under certain conditions, a student under the age of 26 who works under an umowa zlecenia is exempt from paying a portion of social security contributions. At the same time, fictitious student status can create serious problems during an audit of the legality of employment.
In a job posting, an employer may list 35–36 zlotys per hour, even though the contractually guaranteed rate is lower. The employee receives the stated maximum only if they meet certain requirements.
For example, of the 36 zlotys per hour listed in the job posting, only 20 zlotys may be guaranteed, while the rest will depend on meeting the conditions for receiving a bonus.
Due to sick leave or a missed shift, the final salary in such cases may turn out to be significantly lower than expected.
Another risk is the incorrect tracking of actual hours worked.
An employee may actually work 220 hours, but see only 180 hours reflected in their pay stub.
Therefore, Ukrainians are advised to independently monitor the number of hours worked and compare it with the data in their pay stubs.
It’s also worth clarifying in advance how overtime and night shifts are compensated. According to Gremi Personal, in some cases, an employee may be paid for all hours at the same rate, without any additional compensation.
A portion of their earnings may be withheld to cover housing, transportation, work clothes, or other expenses.
Another risk involves fines or fees that the employee was not informed about during the hiring process.
Therefore, before signing a contract, it’s important to carefully review all possible deductions and additional expenses.
Gremi Personal emphasizes that one of the main mistakes when looking for a job in Poland is to evaluate a job opening solely based on the stated salary.
“Today, a risky job opening doesn’t necessarily look like a scam. It may offer a good salary, a reasonable job description, and a standard contract. The problem becomes apparent later, when additional deductions appear, the salary changes, or issues with documents arise,” the company notes.
Gremi Personal advises checking not only the job listing itself but also the agency—its reputation, experience, and the actual terms it offers—before accepting a position.
According to the company, as of the end of 2025, there were over 8,200 registered employment agencies in Poland.
Due to high competition, some companies try to attract candidates with the most attractive offers possible. At the same time, the terms of the job posting may not match the provisions of the contract or the actual salary amount.
This is evidenced by a press release from the international employment agency Gremi Personal.
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