The topic of lowering social security (ZUS) contributions for professional drivers has been widely discussed in Poland’s transport industry for months. Many transport company owners hoped the government would finally introduce measures to ease the financial pressure on logistics and haulage businesses, which have long struggled with rising labour costs.
Unfortunately, recent information from the Ministry of Infrastructure confirms that the proposal to introduce reduced ZUS contributions for drivers has been completely removed from the legislative agenda.
What was the original idea?
The initial draft of the bill included a provision allowing lower social security contributions to be paid on part of the salaries of international truck drivers.
The goal was to make the contribution base more realistic, since a significant portion of drivers’ pay consists of per diems and travel allowances, which are already exempt from taxation. This solution was intended to bring the Polish system closer to those used in other EU countries.
Why was the proposal removed?
According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, the idea of lowering ZUS contributions was dropped during inter-ministerial consultations.
The reason? A lack of agreement with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Family and Social Policy regarding the potential impact on the state budget and the social insurance system.
In simple terms – the government concluded that it cannot afford to reduce social contribution revenues, even if it would help the entire transport sector.
What does this mean for transport companies?
This is bad news for carriers. The industry has long been calling for real support, especially in the face of:
- rising fuel prices,
- increasing leasing and insurance costs,
- wage pressure from drivers,
- and strong competition from Eastern European carriers.
Lower ZUS contributions could have helped Polish transport companies maintain competitiveness and retain drivers in the domestic market.
Without this relief, carriers will once again be forced to look for savings elsewhere – often at the expense of investments, innovation, or financial reserves.
Industry reactions
The decision has been met with disappointment across the transport community. Industry organisations emphasise that the road transport sector contributes significantly to the national budget, yet continues to be overlooked when it comes to real legislative support.
Meanwhile, international truck drivers remain among the most heavily taxed and administratively burdened professions – high contributions, complex settlements, and regulatory instability are pushing more drivers to consider working abroad.
What’s next?
Although the idea of reduced ZUS contributions has been shelved for now, experts stress that pressure from the transport sector should not stop.
There is still a chance that the concept could return in a revised form — for example, as part of a broader support package for the transport industry. However, this will require continued lobbying and a strong, unified voice from carrier organisations.
Summary
A proposal that could have provided real relief for thousands of transport companies has ultimately been scrapped.
Once again, the sector is left to face rising costs and shrinking profit margins on its own. The hope remains that, in the future, the government will return to dialogue with transport operators — and begin to treat the road transport industry not as a problem, but as a key pillar of the Polish economy.