Working Through a Temporary Agency: How It Works

Temporary agency work is a popular and flexible way to work in Poland. It connects three parties: the agency, the client company, and the worker.

The Three-Party Model

When you take a temporary job, roles are divided between three parties:

  • The Temporary Work Agency: Your legal employer. The agency signs your contract, pays your salary, pays your taxes, and covers your social security (ZUS).  
  • The User Employer (Client Company): The company where you actually work every day. They assign your daily tasks, supervise your work, and provide safe working conditions (OHS/BHP).  
  • The Temporary Worker: You. You work at the client company's site based on the contract signed with the agency.  

When Is Temporary Work Used?

Companies use temporary workers for specific operational needs:  

  • Seasonal, peak-time, or short-term tasks.  
  • Urgent projects that regular staff cannot finish on time.  
  • Replacing an employee who is temporarily absent.  

Note: You cannot work as a temporary employee at a company if you already have a direct employment contract or civil contract with that same company at the same time.

Time Limits for Temporary Assignments

Polish law sets limits on how long you can work for one client company:  

  • Standard limit: Up to 18 months at one client company within a 36-month period.  
  • Replacement limit: Up to 36 months if you are replacing an absent employee.  

This time limit applies to the client company, even if you switch to a different agency.  

Your Rights and Rules

  • Equal treatment: Temporary workers must get fair conditions and pay, similar to regular employees in same positions at the client company.  
  • Paid vacation: If you are employed under an employment contract, you earn 2 days of paid annual leave for each full month during which you remain at the disposal of one or more user employers. Unpaid leave and periods of unexcused absence do not count towards this period.
  • Contracts: Agencies can sign fixed-term employment contracts or civil law contracts (e.g., umowa zlecenie), depending on the job offer.
  • Agency certification: Legitimate agencies must be registered in the official Polish database (KRAZ).  

 

Why Choose LSJ?

LSJ is a fully certified HR agency registered in the National Register of Employment Agencies (KRAZ). We have been operating continuously under the same name for over 24 years, building a solid reputation based on stability, trust, and full legal compliance.  

Over 14,000 workers have already worked with us or continue to work with us today. We proudly support a truly international community. Our team has successfully employed candidates from all over the world, including Algeria, Armenia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Colombia, Egypt, Estonia, Ethiopia, Gambia, Georgia, India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and many other nations.

When you work with LSJ, you get a reliable, experienced partner for your career in Poland.