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  What it means

  Literally: “There should be pay for the work that has been undertaken.” The proverb asserts that honest labor deserves fair compensation — work done should not go unrewarded. It is a statement of fairness and economic justice, used when someone’s effort is ignored or unpaid. Poles may cite it when pushing back against being taken advantage of, or when advocating for someone whose work has been overlooked.

  English equivalent

  A fair day's work deserves a fair day's pay.

  Vocabulary

  • powinna — should, ought to (feminine form of modal powinien)
  • płaca — pay, wage, salary
  • temu — for this, for that (dative of ten/to)
  • podjęta — undertaken, taken on (past passive participle of podjąć)
  • praca — work, labor

  Grammar note

  'Powinna być' is a modal construction: 'powinien/powinna' (should/ought) + 'być' (to be). 'Płaca' is the subject in nominative; 'temu' is dative, indicating 'for whom' the pay should exist. 'Za którą podjęta praca' is a relative clause — 'for which the work was undertaken' — with an ellipsis of 'została' (was), common in proverbs for brevity.

  Cultural context

  This proverb reflects a deep-rooted Polish sense of fairness about labor, particularly relevant in the context of Poland's strong craft and trade traditions. It is used in professional disputes, parent-child conversations about chores and allowances, and broader discussions of wages. The register is neutral and somewhat formal, making it suitable in workplace contexts.

  Intermediate

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