In brief

• Poland's labour ministry reports on a government pilot of shorter working hours with unchanged pay.
• 78 employers, 38 private and 40 public, are testing schemes covering close to 5,000 workers.
• Working time was cut by at least 10% in the first half of 2026 and by 20% in the second half.
• The pilot runs until the end of December 2026, with final reports to follow.

Pilot covers 78 employers and close to 5,000 workers

The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy (MRPiPS) reported on Monday on the latest stage of the government pilot on reduced working time with preserved pay. Seventy-eight employers take part: 38 private companies and 40 public institutions, spanning different sectors. The tested arrangements cover close to 5,000 employees.

Working hours cut by 10%, then 20%

The ministry said participants reduced working time by at least 10% in the first half of 2026 and by 20% in the second half of the year. (4-dniowy tydzień pracy, ta sama pensja. Są pierwsze wnioski firm – Money.pl) Most employers cut hours gradually. Some moved to a four-day week, while others introduced extra days off. (Krótszy czas pracy. Polski pilotaż przynosi obiecujące wnioski – RMF24)

Firms report no negative change so far

According to the ministry, companies in the pilot have not recorded negative changes in their operations. They keep stable finances and meet deadlines, though they point to difficulties with shift planning, covering absences and keeping production and customer service running. (Skrócony czas pracy - pilotaż trwa nadal. Firmy nie odnotowały negatywnych zmian – infor.pl) The ministry argues that shorter hours can be combined with the smooth running of firms and institutions, provided the organisation is adjusted. (Krótszy czas pracy w firmach i urzędach. Znamy pierwsze wnioski – Bankier.pl)

Third meeting of the advisory team

The findings were presented at the third sitting of the Team for Reduced Working Time, held on 27 October 2026 at the ministry. (Trzecie posiedzenie Zespołu ds. Skróconego Czasu Pracy – Ministerstwo Rodziny, Pracy i Polityki Społecznej) Members included employer and business groups, NGOs, academics, trade unions, local government officials and ministry staff, along with representatives of firms in the pilot. The meeting also covered a survey of employers and employees taking part in the second quarter of 2026.

Pilot runs to year-end

Testing continues until 31 December 2026. Participants will then prepare reports on their projects, which are meant to show the effects of shorter hours and which models could suit different sectors. (MRPiPS: kolejne spotkanie Zespołu ds. Skróconego Czasu Pracy. Co udało się ustalić? – GazetaPrawna.pl)