Seasonal worker accident in Polish agriculture. Compensation from KRUS, ZUS and the farmer's liability insurance
A seasonal worker injured in an accident at work on a farm may be entitled to several benefits at once. Who pays and how much depends above all on the legal basis of the work — not on citizenship.
Legal state as of 08 October 2026. The Polish version is the source version.
First, establish the legal basis of the work
A seasonal farm worker may work on different legal bases: a harvest assistance agreement (umowa o pomocy przy zbiorach), a civil-law contract of mandate (umowa zlecenia), an employment contract, or as a temporary worker assigned by a temporary work agency. Each form means different accident insurance and a different payer of benefits.
The harvest assistance agreement covers the harvesting of hops, fruit, vegetables, tobacco, herbs and herbal plants. It is concluded in writing before the work starts, with an adult, and the total period of assistance may not exceed 180 days in a calendar year. The assistant is insured by the Agricultural Social Insurance Fund (Kasa Rolniczego Ubezpieczenia Społecznego, KRUS).
Under an employment contract or a contract of mandate, accident insurance is handled by the Social Insurance Institution (Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych, ZUS). A temporary worker is employed by a temporary work agency but works under the direction of the farm or company that took them on (the user employer); in this case, accident benefits are also paid by ZUS.
Harvest assistant: compensation from KRUS
The farmer registers the assistant for insurance with KRUS within 7 days of concluding the agreement, at the latest before the period for which it was concluded expires. The farmer calculates and pays the contribution.
An assistant injured in an accident during the work covered by the agreement is entitled to a one-off compensation from KRUS. It amounts to PLN 1431 for each percent of permanent or long-term damage to health. With 10% damage, this is PLN 14 310.
The assistant's insurance is limited — it does not cover sickness benefit or a disability pension. That is why, in the case of more serious injuries, the farmer's civil liability and his compulsory liability insurance (OC) are of key importance.
Employment contract, contract of mandate, temporary work: benefits from ZUS
From 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, the one-off compensation from ZUS is PLN 1781 for each percent of permanent or long-term damage to health. Family members of a deceased person are entitled to compensation, the basic amount of which for a spouse or child is PLN 160 264.
Accident insurance with ZUS also covers sickness benefit during incapacity for work caused by the accident and, in the case of permanent effects, a pension for incapacity for work.
In the case of a temporary worker, the circumstances and causes of the accident are established by the user employer where the incident occurred. It passes the documentation to the temporary work agency, which is the employer.
Farmer's liability insurance and civil claims
Compulsory farmers' liability insurance (OC rolników) pays compensation if the farmer, a person sharing the household with them or a person working on their farm is liable for damage connected with owning the farm — including death, bodily injury or health disorder (art. 50 ustawy o ubezpieczeniach obowiązkowych, Ubezpieczeniowym Funduszu Gwarancyjnym i Polskim Biurze Ubezpieczycieli Komunikacyjnych).
Civil claims may include compensation for harm suffered, reimbursement of the costs of treatment, rehabilitation and travel, compensation for lost earnings, and an annuity. Their amount depends on the actual consequences of the accident and the extent of the liable party's responsibility, not on a table of rates.
A benefit from KRUS or ZUS does not exclude civil claims. If the farmer did not have the required liability policy, claims can be pursued against the Insurance Guarantee Fund (Ubezpieczeniowy Fundusz Gwarancyjny, UFG).
Does citizenship matter for compensation?
No. The rules on accident benefits from KRUS and ZUS and on civil liability do not make the right to compensation dependent on citizenship. An insured foreigner has the same rights as a Polish citizen.
A foreigner who is entitled to work in Poland or exempt from the work permit requirement may be a harvest assistant. For a foreigner, what matters most is the legality of stay and work and whether they were registered for insurance.
Failure to register for insurance may deprive the injured person of the KRUS benefit or make it harder to obtain benefits from ZUS, but it does not release the farmer or employer from civil liability for the damage. Irregularities on the employer's side burden primarily the employer.
What to do after an accident and what the deadlines are
Report the accident to the person employing you and — in the case of a harvest assistant — to the KRUS office. Secure the medical records, the agreement or proof of payments, photos of the scene and witness details. Find out which insurer holds the farmer's liability policy.
Claims for personal injury become time-barred 3 years from the day on which the injured person learned of the damage and of the person obliged to remedy it. If the damage resulted from a crime or offence, the period is 20 years from the commission of the offence (art. 442¹ k.c.).
Leaving Poland and receiving treatment abroad do not extinguish claims, but require careful documentation of the course of treatment and the costs incurred.
What this means for you
- If you do seasonal work on a farm, check what agreement you work under and whether you have been registered for insurance — this determines whether, after an accident, you turn to KRUS or to ZUS.
- A benefit from KRUS or ZUS is usually not everything: independently of it, you can claim compensation for harm and damages from the farmer's liability insurance.
- Citizenship does not limit the right to compensation. What matters is legal work, registration for insurance and meeting the deadlines.
- Farmers and employers: registering an assistant within 7 days and a valid liability policy also protect you against the costs of an accident.
When it's worth asking a legal adviser
If your situation differs from the typical case, you have received a letter from an office, or you are not sure which procedure applies to you — briefly describe your case on WhatsApp. We will point you to the right path and the source where you can confirm the details.
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The content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute individual legal advice. Every administrative matter depends on its individual facts — before acting, confirm the information at the official source or consult an authorised representative.