Work exchange – as a service of the labour office

What is work exchange?

The term work exchange refers to assistance that the district labour office offers in regard to the process of recruitment. It is based on initiating contact between the employers and the job seekers.
Work exchange may take different forms depending on the employer’s needs, e.g.:

• unrestricted work exchange – job advertisements are accessible to everyone. If an unemployed person or a job seeker is interested in a job offer, he or she applies directly to the employer, because the contact data is included in the advertisement,
• semi-restricted work exchange – job advertisements are accessible to a great range of candidates. The contact data is not placed in the advertisement. A labour office worker pre-selects the applicants and presents the employer with a list of best candidates,
• restricted work exchange – job advertisements are accessible to everyone, but the contact data is not included in the offer. A labour office worker pre-selects the candidates after interviewing them, and assigns the candidates that fulfil all the requirements to the employer,
• employment exchange meetings – meetings that are organized in order to initiate contact between one employer and a group of job seekers. A vocational counsellor helps to select the right candidates,
• employment fairs – they enable direct contact between a number of employers and job seekers. During the fairs the employers can interview the candidates and create a database of information about the candidates,
• EURES services – work exchange on the territory of the European Union.

What conditions must an employer meet in order to benefit from work exchange services?

The district labour office cannot accept a job advertisement, if:

• during the period of 365 days before submitting the job advertisement the employer was sentenced for violation of the labour laws or legal proceedings were lodged against him;
• the requirements included in the job advertisement break the rule of equal treatment in employment, and what it comes with, may discriminate the candidates against their:
• • sex,
  • age,
  • disability,
  • race,
  • nationality,
  • sexual preferences,
  • political convictions,
  • religious denomination or
  • trade union membership.

How to place a job advertisement in a dristrict labour office?

If  an employer wants to place a job advertisement, he or she should contact a district labour office. The advert may be placed in one chosen district labour office.

A national job advertisement is a document which requires the employer’s signature. Employers may place a job advertisement via e-mail or fax. However, such a document has to contain an electronic signature.

The national job advertisement consists of:

• name of the employer,
• contact data,
• NIP number,
• REGON number, EKD code,
• number of workers that are currently employed,
• number of workers that the employer intends to employ,
• position and requirements,
• duties,
• place of work,
• remuneration,
• shift work,
• starting date of employment,
• way of contact.

How does it work?

• While placing a job offer, the employer chooses the type of advertisement. In other words, he/she decides whether the contact data should be accessible to everyone (the candidates apply directly to the employer) or not (the district labour office directs the candidates that fulfil the requirements to the employer).
• On an agreed upon date, the district labour office places the job offer on the board and on its website.
• After agreed upon period of time, the district labour office starts seeking for the rights candidate.
• If the employer chooses direct contact, the candidates apply straight to him. If the employers chooses the other option, the district labour office checks whether the candidate fulfils all of the necessary requirements, and then directs him/her to the employer with a referral,
• The candidate confirms with a signature that he was given the referral and that he got familiar with their rights and obligations.
• The employer signs the referral as a proof that the candidate applied for the position.

Why is it worth placing a job advertisement in a district labour office?

It enables employers to:

• save time and money,
• familiarize yourself with the opinion of vocational counsellor about the predispositions of the candidates for work,
• ensure that the professional methods and instruments are used in the process of recruitment,
• have freedom of choice,
• familiarize yourself with the trends on the labour market, and what it comes with, carry out the process of recruitment more effectively.

Useful information

If a district labour office refuses to accept a job advertisement, the employer is sent a written justification.

Legal basis
Act of 20 April 2004 on employment promotion and labour market institutions (Article 36)

Regulation of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy of 14 September 2010 on the standards and conditions for labor market services

Regulation of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy of 12 December 2011 amending the Regulation on standards and conditions for labor market services

Development: Editorial team of Zielona Linia