The Polish Sejm has passed an amendment to the public holidays law, officially designating Christmas Eve (December 24th) as a day off work. The new regulations, approved with overwhelming support—403 votes in favor, 10 against, and 12 abstentions—will take effect starting next year.
Additionally, the amendment introduces a provision that beginning in 2025, the three Sundays preceding Christmas Eve will be designated as trading days. This change, proposed to accommodate the holiday shopping season, has sparked significant debate among lawmakers.
The amendment, initially proposed by the Left (Lewica) party, received positive recommendations from joint parliamentary committees earlier this week. During deliberations, further adjustments were introduced, including a proposal by the Civic Platform (KO) to delay the implementation of the changes to February 2025. However, a third reading expedited the process, allowing the Sejm to finalize the decision without returning the bill to committee review.
Controversy surrounded the provision allowing additional trading Sundays, with opposition voiced by PiS (Law and Justice) representative Jan Mosiński. He criticized the amendment, claiming it undermines family values and Polish traditions. Despite objections, PiS announced plans to propose further amendments.
The new legislation represents a significant shift in Poland’s approach to holiday observance and retail regulations, balancing workers’ rights with economic considerations for the festive season.