Polish unions back a proposal for making Christmas Eve a public holiday for all workers.
Poland may soon see Christmas Eve as a national holiday, thanks to a proposal from Family Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk. Announcing the plan on TOK FM, Dziemianowicz-Bąk said the bill aims to make December 24th a day off for all workers. Whether the proposal will take effect this year depends on how quickly it passes through parliament.
Strong Union Support
Poland’s three major labor unions—Solidarność, OPZZ, and the Forum of Trade Unions—have welcomed the idea. Solidarność leader Piotr Duda noted the union has long called for this, but raised concerns about whether the bill will include retail workers, who often work on Christmas Eve. OPZZ’s Piotr Ostrowski added that many companies already offer this day off and stressed the need for fair compensation for workers unable to take the day off.
Equality for All Workers
Forum of Trade Unions spokesman Grzegorz Sikora emphasized that Christmas Eve should be a time of rest for all workers, not just select groups.