Gdańsk, June 5, 2025 – An important training on the legal employment of foreigners in Poland was held in the Round Hall of the Marshal’s Office of the Pomeranian Voivodeship. The event was organized by the Self-Government of the Pomeranian Voivodeship as part of the Pomeranian Cooperation Platform for Foreigners in the Regional Labour Market (PPW) and the Pomeranian Council for Regional Migration Policy.
Participants included representatives of Pomeranian employers, employment agencies, and experts from key institutions such as the Pomeranian Voivodeship Office, Gdańsk Labour Office, Border Guard, National Labour Inspectorate, and the Marshal’s Office of the Pomeranian Voivodeship.
New Law on Employing Foreigners – What Changes from 2025?
The main focus of the training was the new Act of March 20, 2025, on the conditions for permitting work for foreigners, which introduces a range of measures designed to simplify and streamline the processes for legal employment of foreigners in Poland.
Key changes:
✅ Priority processing of applications for shortage occupations
✅ Full digitalization of the process – documents can be submitted online
✅ Abolition of the labour market test – faster employment procedures
✅ Greater transparency regarding refusals of work permits
✅ Introduction of reserved occupations, requiring additional employment conditions
✅ New informational and documentation obligations for employers
Legal employment and inspections – what employers need to be prepared for:
The training also covered new guidelines for monitoring the legality of employment and residence of foreigners. Employers are required to keep employees’ residence documents and be prepared for inspections by the Border Guard and Labour Inspectorate.
🔍 The Border Guard has new powers to inspect workplaces
🧾 Labour inspectors will review new documentation and assess compliance with employment regulations
💸 Fines and penalties for illegal employment have been revised
⚖️ New categories of violations have been introduced
Role of Local Government and Integration Support:
An important aspect of the meeting was the role of local authorities in migrant integration. Through projects funded by FAMI and FEP, programs are being developed to provide:
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Education initiatives
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Language courses
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Psychological support
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Career guidance
These activities aim to facilitate integration and support the development of migrants’ skills in the regional labour market.
Among the speakers were experienced experts from institutions responsible, among other things, for the legal employment of foreigners in Poland. Presenters included Marta Jeka from the Pomeranian Voivodeship Office, Sylwia Dymnicka-Iwaniuk representing the Gdańsk Labour Office, Second Lieutenant Adrianna Kowalonek and Warrant Officer Beata Stępniak from the Maritime Border Guard Unit, Karolina Szałkowska from the District Labour Inspectorate in Gdańsk, and Agnieszka Zabłocka from the Office of the Marshal of the Pomeranian Voivodeship.
During their presentations, the specialists discussed the key changes in regulations regarding the legal employment of foreigners in 2025, provided examples of the practical application of new procedures, and highlighted the most common mistakes made by employers. The Q&A session was particularly popular, allowing participants to receive detailed clarifications on the new legal requirements and obligations related to employing foreigners in Poland.
Due to high interest and the complexity of the legal changes regarding the employment of foreigners in Poland, a follow-up meeting for employers and employment agencies will be held on June 23, 2025, focusing again on the practical aspects of implementing the new law on legal employment of foreigners.
Information and registration will soon be available on the Gdańsk Labour Office website.
