Poland: Second Version of the Draft Act on Internships

The Ministry of Family, Labour, and Social Policy has resubmitted the draft Act on Internships for consultation.

The project assumes a shift away from internships performed under mandate contracts. Under the new proposals, internships are generally to be carried out under an employment contract, and in the case of minors, under a separate internship agreement.

The project also stipulates:

• introducing a minimum stipend for interns at a level of at least 65% of the national minimum wage.
• a prohibition on temporary work agencies assigning interns.
• an obligation to specify the range of skills and experience to be gained in internship advertisements.
• restricting the number of interns based on the size of the organizer’s workforce.
• prohibiting employers from requiring prior professional experience in the profession covered by the internship.

The act is intended to enter into force on January 1, 2027.