The number of foreigners paying social security contributions in Poland is steadily increasing, along with the increase in employment of foreigners. To a large extent, this is related to the liberalisation of access to the Polish labour market for migrants, mainly from the East. The presentation of statistical data on foreigners insured in the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) is the aim of this analysis.

In the light of ZUS statistics, in 2019, 651 000 foreigners paid social security contributions, or more than twice than in 2015. About 19 500 (i.e. 3 percent of the total) ran their own businesses, or 4 500 more than in 2015. The majority of foreigners insured in the Polish social security system came from Ukraine – 479 000, followed by Belarus with 42 000, and Georgia with 10 000.

The number of foreigners insured in ZUS is over two times lower than the number of foreigners legally employed in Poland. This difference results mostly from the fact that quite a significant percentage of foreigners in Poland are employed on the basis of a contract for a specific task. This type of contract is not covered by the obligation to pay social security contributions.

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