Poland adds new additional paid public holiday from 2025
The Polish Parliament has recently enacted legislation establishing a new public holiday on December 24th, designated as Christmas Eve. This legislation also modifies the existing regulations by increasing the number of Sundays prior to Christmas Eve on which trading is permitted, raising the allowance from two to three Sundays, in exception to the general prohibition on Sunday trading.
The President signed the legislation on December 24, 2024, with an anticipated implementation date of February 1, 2025.
Key Highlights:
Establishment of Christmas Eve as an Official Holiday:
Effective February 1, 2025, Christmas Eve will be recognized as a permanent official holiday for all employees, thereby increasing the total number of paid public holidays in Poland from 13 to 14 days annually.
Work during public holidays is restricted to specific exceptions, such as shift work. A detailed list of these exceptions can be found on the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy’s website.
Employees required to work on a public holiday are entitled to their standard pay for each hour worked, along with either a compensatory day off, irrespective of hours worked, or an overtime rate of 100% additional pay for each hour worked.
Modification of Sunday Trading Regulations Prior to Christmas Eve:
The Act of January 10, 2018, prohibits trading activities, including the sale of goods for monetary exchange, in commercial establishments on Sundays and public holidays.
This prohibition primarily targets retail businesses but does not extend to 32 specific categories, including pharmacies, gas stations, and bakeries, as outlined in the 2018 Act.
Despite the general prohibition on Sunday trading, the 2018 Act designates certain Sundays as "shopping" Sundays, typically occurring before major holidays, to facilitate consumer shopping on those days.
