1. General Rules
   1. Interpreters shall perform the contracted work according to their best knowledge and diligence. They shall not bring discredit on the good name of interpreters by their appearance or behaviour
   2. Interpreters shall be bound by the strictest secrecy and be loyal to the clients.
2. Working Conditions and Remuneration Rules
   1. Working Conditions
      1. If the conference location is identical to the interpreter’s residence – working hours are counted from the time the interpreter was ordered to arrive until the time specified in the contract; if the conference is prolonged, interpreters are remunerated for the complete duration of the conference. Breaks for participants of the conference, consequently for the interpreters, are included in the working hours. In case of assignments for the whole working day, interpreters are entitled to have at least a one-hour dinner break. If the conference location is different from the interpreter’s residence – the rules from section 2.d are applicable.
      2. Interpreters shall arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled beginning of the conference.
      3. Organizers shall provide interpreters with a set of materials in the languages of the conference (conference programme, list of participants, agenda, reports, other documents and materials). Interpreters shall receive these materials in advance so that they are able to prepare for the interpretation adequately. Interpreters shall have the right to refuse to interpret the conference if they have not received any materials enabling them to prepare for the contracted work. Interpreters and organizers have the right to request a briefing session before the conference.
      4. If the conference location is different from the interpreter’s residence, organizers shall cover interpreters’ accommodation in a single room with a bathroom and full board or provide interpreters with additional funds for business expenses.
      5. Interpreters shall have the right to refuse to interpret in the event of change of the interpretation mode e. g. simultaneous [including whispered] interpretation instead of consecutive interpretation.
      6. In case of multilingual conferences, a coordinator of the interpreters’ team, who controls their working conditions, shall be present.
   2. Remuneration Rules
      1. Contracts governing rules between interpreters and clients shall specify the scope of work and the level of remuneration.
      2. The normal duration of an interpreter’s working day shall not exceed twelve hours. The basic unit used to calculate the remuneration is a day rate (eight hours). In case of working over eight hours, interpreters shall be remunerated with at least an additional half-day rate. In case of short assignments (up to four hours), interpreters can be remunerated with a half-day rate.
      3. All interpreters working at one conference shall be remunerated according to the same day rate.
      4. If the conference location is different from the interpreter’s residence:
         • The minimum remuneration for one conference day is a day rate. Interpreters shall be remunerated for scheduled non-working days during the conference with at least a half-day rate.
         • Organizers shall cover interpreters’ travel arrangements. Interpreters shall be entitled to use first-class cars in express trains/sleepers on the day before the conference or other means of transport they agree to use.
         • If the journey in one direction exceeds two hours, interpreters shall be rewarded the equivalent of 50 percent of the remuneration for the work in this scope of time.
      5. For interpretation during public holidays and in the night hours (between 10 p. m. and 6 a. m.) the remuneration for interpreters is at least 50 per cent higher than the day rate.
      6. In case of cancellation of the interpretation by organizers, interpreters shall be remunerated with:
         • 50 percent of the remuneration if the interpretation is cancelled 5-10 days before the interpretation date;
         • complete remuneration if the interpretation is cancelled 4 and fewer days before the interpretation date.
3. Particular Terms and Conditions
   1. Simultaneous conference interpretation
      1. Each booth shall have a team composed of at least two interpreters. In case of conferences of considerable difficulty or conferences at which interpreters shall work more than eight hours, the number shall be increased to three interpreters.
      2. Satisfactory conditions of visibility of the room, speakers and projected materials from the booth shall be secured. Booths and interpretation systems shall meet the standards ISO 2306 or ISO 4043. Before the beginning of the conference interpreters shall verify if booth consoles are working properly. Interpreters have the right to refuse to interpret if satisfactory working conditions are not observed (e. g. sound quality).
      3. Interpreters shall be provided with texts of read out speeches in advance. Interpreters have the right to refuse to interpret read out speeches if they have not received the texts in advance.
      4. Interpreters shall agree in advance to interpret video materials during the conference. Interpreters shall hear the sound in their headphones directly from the sound source. Interpreters shall not agree to interpret materials of this kind if they have not had a possibility to watch them in advance or if they have not received the text transcript.
      5. Whispered interpretation is a kind of simultaneous interpretation and requires the work of two interpreters. It is acceptable under exceptional circumstances and for a small group of listeners only or by the use of portable whispering interpretation devices.
   2. Consecutive conference interpretation
      1. Consecutive interpretation which does not exceed two hours may be performed by one interpreter. Consecutive interpretation which exceeds two hours shall be performed by two interpreters.
      2. In case of interpretation for more than six participants of the conference, an amplification system shall be provided.

Adopted by the Resolution of the Executive Board of the Association of Polish Translators and Interpreters on 6 March 2006. The wording approved by the Executive Board on 29 June 2006.

Translated by: Agata Biernacka
Edited by: Katarzyna Diehl