In a move that will bring festive cheer to many, Poland’s parliament has voted to make Christmas Eve a public holiday starting in 2025.
The new legislation passed on Wednesday amends the law on days off, which raises the number of free days to 14 per year, excluding Sundays.
But it also increases the number of shopping Sundays in December from two to three.
The hike in the number of trading Sundays drew criticism from some trade unions due to its impact on workers.
A senior official of the Solidarity trade union said his organization categorically rejected the idea of exchanging an additional day off for an extra day’s work.
Under current trading laws, shops are permitted to open until 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
The main opposition party, the socially conservative Law and Justice, which restricted Sunday trading during its previous eight years of government, had pushed for December 24 to be a public holiday from this year.
Their position was supported by the Left, a member of the ruling coalition, which proposed the bill.
But it also increases the number of shopping Sundays in December from two to three.
The hike in the number of trading Sundays drew criticism from some trade unions due to its impact on workers.
A senior official of the Solidarity trade union said his organization categorically rejected the idea of exchanging an additional day off for an extra day’s work.
Under current trading laws, shops are permitted to open until 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
The main opposition party, the socially conservative Law and Justice, which restricted Sunday trading during its previous eight years of government, had pushed for December 24 to be a public holiday from this year.
Their position was supported by the Left, a member of the ruling coalition, which proposed the bill.
