If you work in Poland through a temporary employment agency, there is an important legal limit you should understand. The Polish Temporary Employment Act (July 9, 2003) limits how long you can be assigned to the same user enterprise: a maximum of 18 months within any rolling 36-month period. Here is what this means for you in practice.
What Is the 18-Month Limit?
Under Article 20 of the Act, a temporary employment agency (such as Nexflow) may not assign you to the same user enterprise (the company where you actually carry out your work) for more than 18 months in total within any 36 consecutive months.
Key clarification: the limit applies to the user enterprise — not the agency:
- You can work through Nexflow agency indefinitely.
- The restriction applies to a specific company (warehouse, plant, factory).
- If you work at several different companies, each one has its own separate counter.
How to Count the 18 Months
The time is counted cumulatively — regardless of how many separate contracts you have had. Short breaks under 36 months do not reset the clock.
Example: You work at warehouse X through Nexflow:
- January 2026 – December 2026 = 12 months (via Nexflow)
- February 2027 – July 2027 = 6 months (via a different agency)
- Total: 18 months at warehouse X within 36 months → limit reached
What Happens When the Limit Is Reached?
Once the 18-month limit is exhausted, you have several options:
- A break: Until the 36-month window shifts sufficiently, you cannot return to the same user enterprise.
- Transfer to a different company: Nexflow can assign you to a different client — this is the most common outcome.
- Direct employment: The user enterprise may choose to hire you directly (employment contract), which removes the agency-related limit entirely and lets you stay in the same workplace.
What About Your Work Permit?
As a foreign national, keep in mind:
- Your work permit or employer declaration (oświadczenie) is issued by the agency (Nexflow) as your formal employer — not by the user enterprise.
- If you are transferred to a different client company through Nexflow, a new permit or amendment may be required.
- Nexflow handles the paperwork — inform your coordinator at least 4 weeks before your 18-month limit is reached.
How Nexflow Monitors This Limit
Nexflow tracks each worker's accumulated time at each user enterprise. As you approach the 18-month mark, your coordinator will contact you to:
- Discuss your options for continuing with a different client.
- Explain the next administrative steps.
- Propose alternative work locations in your area.
Summary — Key Takeaways
✅ Maximum 18 months at the same user enterprise within any 36-month period.
✅ The limit applies to the company, not the agency — you can keep working through Nexflow.
✅ After the limit: transfer to a new workplace or take a qualifying break.
✅ Nexflow handles work permit documentation for any transfer.
✅ Inform your agency coordinator in advance — do not wait until the last day.
Questions? Reach out to your Nexflow coordinator — we will help you plan the next step in your career in Poland.