Umowa o Pracę (UoP) An employment contract is a legal act consisting of a mutual expression of will by the employee and the employer, confirming the employee's obligation to perform a specified type of work for the employer and under the employer's supervision, in the place and at the time designated by the employer. Under the employment contract the employer undertakes to employ the worker in exchange for remuneration.
An employment contract must be concluded on time. Otherwise, the employer is required to confirm the arrangement in writing (parties to the contract, type of contract, terms of the contract) no later than the day the employee starts work.
Types of employment contracts
The provisions of the Labour Code specify the types of employment contracts that can be concluded with employees. An employment contract can be concluded:
- For a probationary period
- For a fixed term.
- For an indefinite term,
What an employment contract covers
An employment contract specifies the parties, the type of contract, the date of its conclusion, and the working and pay conditions – in particular:
- Type of work;
- place of work, or a note that the employee determines the place of work themselves;
- remuneration corresponding to the type of work, with details of pay components;
- Working hours;
Traditionally, an employment contract of the umowa o pracę type offers:
- paid leave: 21–26 days (depending on length of service);
- a guarantee of ZUS/NFZ social and health insurance;
- overtime pay (so-called nadgodziny);
- the minimum wage.
- Note that the Ministry of Labour, Family and Social Policy is working on a project that would provide 26 days of leave for everyone, regardless of length of service (time worked).
Also, on the basis of such a contract – or rather, on the basis of the very fact of working for the employer – it will be possible to obtain a residence permit.
We remind you that if you are not exempt from the requirement to obtain a work permit (Polish citizen, permanent residence card, student status, etc.), the employer will be obliged to prepare the necessary documents for you, such as:
- the "invitation to work" – oświadczenie – confirmation;
- work permit – zezwolenie na pracę;
- the "labour market test" – opinia starosty – opinion of the starosta.
Termination of an employment contract
An employment contract terminates:
- by mutual agreement,
- after notice is given,
- without notice,
- upon expiry of the term for which it was concluded,
- upon completion of the work for which the person was hired.