How to Check an Employer in Poland or the Czech Republic Before Signing a Contract

The advertisement promises 4,500 zlotys net, free accommodation, and an official contract. A person arrives, and it turns out—the accommodation costs 800 zlotys per month, the contract is signed only two weeks “after the probation period,” and the rate turns out to be minimal. This is not an exception. The Polish Labor Inspectorate (PIP) records thousands of complaints from foreign workers every year, and the majority concern conditions diverging from those promised.

Checking an employer in advance is feasible and takes from 10 to 30 minutes. Below is the specific procedure for Poland and the Czech Republic, and a list of questions you should ask before getting on the bus.

Poland: Three Registers That Are Open for Free

1. KRS – National Court Register

This is the register of legal entities. If your employer is a limited liability company (sp. z o.o.) or a joint-stock company (SA), they must be in the KRS. Searching on the rejestr.io site or directly at krs.ms.gov.pl is free.

What to look for in the extract: company registration date, whether there is no ongoing liquidation or bankruptcy proceeding, who the representative is and whether this matches the person signing your contract. A company registered three weeks ago is not automatically a fraud, but it is a reason to ask more questions.

2. REGON – Business Entities Register

If the employer is a sole proprietor (jednoosobowa działalność gospodarcza), they are listed in REGON, not KRS. Search on regon.stat.gov.pl: enter the company’s NIP or REGON to get basic data — name, address, type of activity. The PKD code is especially useful: it shows what the company officially engages in. An agency recruiting for warehouses but declared as trading in auto parts poses questions.

3. PIP – State Labor Inspectorate

If doubts arise after signing, or if conditions are violated on-site — PIP hotline: 111 (free from Polish numbers). But even before traveling, on the pip.gov.pl website, you can check whether the employer appears in public decisions regarding violations.

Important: Mediation agencies from Ukraine that send you to Polish companies may not be registered in Polish registers at all. Check both — the agency and the final employer.

Czech Republic: Two Registers and One Inspectorate

1. Obchodní rejstřík

Register of legal entities, analogous to the Polish KRS. Website: or.justice.cz. Enter the IČO (similar to the tax registration number) or company name. The extract shows: date of establishment, address, registered capital, whether liquidation proceedings are opened. The search is free.

2. Živnostenský rejstřík

For sole proprietors and small businesses with a “živnost” license. Website: rzp.mpo.cz. Here you can see the exact licensed activity and the date it was granted. If a company engages in construction but the license is for public catering, ask for an explanation.

3. SÚIP – Czech State Labor Inspectorate

Website: inspekce-prace.cz. Complaints and consultations: +420 950 179 700. Important: in the Czech Republic, there is a separate register of temporary employment agencies authorized to send foreign workers to companies. If an agency is not in this register, it cannot legally employ you through “agenturní zaměstnávání”. You can check on the MPSV website.

Table: Where and What to Check

Red Flags in the Advertisement

Some signs are visible even before the first contact.

• No specific company name. “A large manufacturing enterprise near Warsaw” is neither an address nor an employer. Before agreeing on departure, find out the full name and legal address.
• Deposit or advance payment for “reserving a spot.” No legal employer charges money for a spot at a workplace. If they ask for 100-300 euros “to reserve,” it’s a scam scheme.
• Salary much higher than the market without explanation. In 2026, the average net salary in a warehouse in Poland is 3,200-3,800 zlotys. Advertisements offering 6,000 zlotys net without mentioning overtime or job specifics are either false or hide undisclosed conditions.
• Response only via messenger, no email or legal address. A Telegram account without a company name is not a partner but a risk.
• Urgency: “The spot is only available until Friday.” Pressuring urgency is a classic trick to prevent you from checking things thoroughly.

Red Flags in the Contract

You should receive the contract before signing, not on the day of arrival. If they say “we’ll sign it here,” that is a red flag.

• No fixed rate. Only “piece-rate pay” without a guaranteed minimum — in Poland, the minimum hourly rate in 2026 is 30.50 zlotys gross. Paying below this is illegal.
• A clause about deductions from salary “for accommodation and food” without specific amounts. If the contract simply says “costs will be compensated from the salary,” find out the exact amount before signing. Polish law allows deductions only if the employee has signed a separate agreement for a specific amount.
• Contract only in Polish or Czech without translation. You have the right to demand a translation or at least to have the key points explained clearly in your language before signing.
• Penalties for “early contract termination” of several thousand zlotys. A legal contract may include a notice period but not penalties for resignation.

Minimum checklist before signing:

1. The employer’s name and NIP / IČO have been obtained and verified in the register
2. The contract is received in advance, not on the day of arrival
3. A fixed rate specified in zlotys or korunas
4. The accommodation cost is indicated as a specific amount
5. No deposits or advance payments
6. There is contact information for HR or a direct supervisor, not just an agent

Questions to Ask the Employer Before Saying “Yes”

Seven questions you should ask in writing—and save the answers:

1. What is the full legal name of the company and its registration number (NIP / IČO)?
2. Is this an employment contract umowa o pracę / pracovní smlouva, or a contract for work?
3. What is the exact gross rate and how much net does this translate to after all deductions?
4. How much is the accommodation, and what is included?
5. What are the working shifts? Are there night or weekend shifts?
6. Can I get a draft contract before departure?
7. What is the procedure if I get sick or want to terminate the contract early?

An employer who answers all seven specifically is a good sign. One who evades two or three is a sign to keep looking.

Where to Find Verified Employers

Checking registers yourself takes time and requires a basic understanding of Polish or Czech. An alternative is to turn to agencies that pre-verify their partners and take responsibility for contract conditions.

BestHelp is an employment agency for Ukrainians in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany. All vacancies on the platform are posted by direct employers with verified documents, employment contracts are provided before departure, and terms are fixed. If you don’t want to spend time verifying every offer yourself, start your search there.

Summary

Checking an employer through state registers takes 20-30 minutes and costs nothing. It does not guarantee 100% safety but filters out schemes where a company legally does not exist or operates under a completely different type of business.

Red flags in the advertisement and contract are another layer of filtering. If the employer pressures urgency, avoids specifics, or asks for money before departure, that is an answer without further questions.

Going abroad should not be a lottery. Checking takes significantly less time than dealing with the consequences later.