The article is dedicated to the issue of temporary agency work which is a relatively new form of employment, quickly gaining popularity in Poland. It is based on directing employees to recruitment agencies to perform work for companies (client employers). For that purpose an agency concludes a job contract with an employee, which specifies the client as an employer. In principle, the agency is responsible for formal aspects of employment while the client employer ensures work organisation. Temporary agency work facilitates flexibility in the area of staff policy and thus corresponds with general trends regarding labor markets, connected with the decline of a ford’s system of labor relations. It has been legally regulated in Poland and regulations ensure protection against discrimination in accordance with international obligations of our country. However, protection mechanisms seen to be unreliable, which is caused by a widespread use of civil law contracts instead of employing temporary workers. This contradicts intentions of the legislator, according to which temporary agency work in most cases should be based on work contracts.