Warehouse work for foreigners can be an easier start than manufacturing, because a scanner or terminal shows most of the instructions instead of a foreman. Order picking and packing do not require fluent Polish from day one; what is needed instead is a current medical certificate and readiness for shift work.

Warehouse work for foreigners: recruitment and the first day

Order picking runs through a warehouse management system: a scanner or terminal shows the location, product and quantity, and a barcode confirms accuracy. The cycle is repetitive and visual, so a new person learns it from the screen, not only by ear.

This does not remove the need for language (safety instructions, shift announcements and conversations with a supervisor remain), but it shifts language from an entry requirement to something picked up on the job. Most plants teach scanner use on site: onboarding on picking usually fits into a single shift, and some warehouses run a short practical test with the scanner during induction: not an exam, just a check that using the device is understood. A current medical certificate covering lifting and cold-room work, where it applies, is required.

Basic positions and shifts

  • picking: collecting goods from a scanner list; the most common entry point,
  • goods receiving and dispatch: paperwork-based work, requires more language,
  • packing and shipping: a position close to what the article on work in manufacturing describes,
  • forklift operator: a position requiring qualifications and clearly better paid,
  • quality control and stocktaking: work for detail-oriented people, less physical.

The schedule is usually shift-based, and some plants run continuous operation, including night shifts. Centers serving e-commerce also have a clear autumn-winter peak; their specifics are covered in the article on work in an e-commerce fulfillment center, where the season brings more hours but shorter contracts.

How much can be lifted manually during picking

For manual lifting and carrying of items by one person, the maximum allowed weight is 12 kg for regular work and 20 kg for occasional work for women, and 30 kg for regular work and 50 kg for occasional work for men. If picking work regularly approaches these thresholds, ask us for a specific offer about rotation between positions and about the daily quota. This is a more specific answer than the phrase "physical work" alone.

When considering a cold-storage warehouse offer, also ask the coordinator about the cold-room temperature and the length of recovery breaks.

Temperature in the hall and in cold storage

The temperature in a room where physical work is performed, including a warehouse, generally cannot be lower than 14°C, unless technological reasons prevent it, as in cold-storage zones. Cold-storage warehouses follow separate rules: a monetary allowance for working in low temperature does not follow directly from the law and depends on the plant or its pay regulations: it is a common myth that cold alone entitles a worker to extra pay. Breaks and meals when working in cold storage are set by health and safety (BHP) rules and the plant's regulations, so ask about them for the specific offer.

How to raise your pay: forklift qualifications

The fastest way to a higher rate is a forklift course ending with a UDT (Office of Technical Inspection) exam. In-house named permits are no longer honored, and independent operation of forklifts subject to technical inspection requires a UDT qualification certificate; current rules are confirmed by UDT. Details on course length and recognition of qualifications obtained abroad are covered in the article on forklift operator qualifications. The next career steps are operating specialist forklifts, work in goods receiving and the role of shift leader, where language becomes a job requirement.

You will find current listings in our job offers, and we confirm the terms of a specific offer before the contract is signed.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a foreigner earn in a warehouse in Poland?

The statutory minimum is set by the minimum hourly rate on a contract of mandate and the minimum wage on an employment contract. The specific warehouse rate depends on the plant, the position and qualifications, for example as a forklift operator.

Do you need to know Polish to work in a warehouse?

Not at the start: a scanner shows the picking instructions, not a conversation. The language stays needed for safety instructions and contact with a supervisor, and becomes a requirement when promoted to shift leader.

What does recruitment for warehouse work look like?

It usually does not require prior experience: onboarding on picking fits into a single shift, and some plants run a short practical scanner test that checks understanding, not qualifications.

How long are the shifts and are there night shifts?

The schedule is usually shift-based, and some plants, especially those serving e-commerce, run continuous operation with night shifts; the number of hours also increases in the autumn-winter season.

Does cold-storage work come with a cold allowance?

Not by law: a monetary allowance depends on the plant or its pay regulations. Breaks and meals when working in cold storage are set by health and safety (BHP) rules and the plant's regulations, so ask about them for the specific offer.

This text describes the general rules. What you are entitled to depends on your type of contract: an employment contract (umowa o pracę) or a contract of mandate (umowa zlecenie). Your own contract and payslip are what count.