For several years, Poland has had a law restricting trade on Sundays and the holidays listed in the law, i.e.:
- January 1 – New Year’s Day,
- January 6 – Epiphany,
- Easter Sunday,
- Easter Monday,
- May 1 – Labour Day,
- May 3 – Constitution Day,
- Pentecost Sunday,
- Corpus Christi,
- August 15 – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
- November 1 – All Saints’ Day,
- November 11 – National Independence Day,
- December 25 – Christmas Day,
- December 26 – second day of Christmas,
- December 24 – Christmas Eve
- The Saturday immediately preceding the first day of Easter
Restriction of trade means that no commercial activity is allowed on Sundays and the listed days, except for the activities of establishments listed in the Act (including gas stations, pharmacies, bakeries, post offices, ice-cream parlours, souvenir shops).
The prohibition of trade in other establishments not listed in Article 6 of the Act does not apply to trade conducted personally by an entrepreneur who is a natural person (who may not engage employees or persons performing activities under civil law contracts to work on Sundays). Violation of the prohibitions established by the Act is punishable by a fine.
At the same time, the law specifies a number of Sundays per year on which trade is not restricted (the prohibitions established by the law do not apply).
Legal basis:
Act of January 10, 2018 on restriction of trade on Sundays and holidays and on certain other days (Journal of Laws of 2024, items 449)
Non-working Days Act of January 18, 1951, i.e. Journal of Laws of 2020, item 1920.
Information current as of: .
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