Minimum wage to rise to 4,950 zł in January, about 3,704 zł take-home

That is 3% more than the current 4,806 zł. An employee on a standard employment contract will take home about 3,704 zł.

The minimum hourly rate, which applies among other things to civil-law contracts of mandate, will also rise, to 32.30 zł gross, 0.90 zł more than this year.

The government decided alone

The amount was set by the Council of Ministers. Trade unions and employers on the Social Dialogue Council failed to reach agreement, and in that case the decision falls to the government.

The unions wanted at least 5,200 zł. Employers did not want a rise above the government's proposal and said they could accept that level.

Below inflation

A 3% rise is lower than September's inflation of 4.0%. If prices keep rising at a similar pace, the minimum wage will buy slightly less next year than it does today.

Other amounts also depend on the minimum wage, such as the supplement for night work, so the rise means higher costs for employers beyond basic pay.