Proposed Sunday trading ban in Poland

Poland

On 2 September, NSZZ Solidarność (a Polish trade union) submitted a draft bill to the Polish Parliament. The draft bill, which was introduced by a popular legislative initiative, proposes to prohibit trading on Sundays.

Who is concerned?

The draft bill introduces a general ban on trading on Sundays and restrictions on trading on Christmas Eve and Holy Saturday. The ban and the restrictions apply to the sales outlets listed in the draft:

  • retail shops
  • sales stands
  • sales stalls
  • warehouses
  • coal sellers
  • building supplies stores
  • department stores
  • mail order companies
  • sales offices and
  • online shops offering manufactured goods.

The draft act does not define “manufactured goods”. Thus, we expect that this term will require additional explanation at a later stage.

A similar ban is considered also in relations to warehouses and logistic centers.

General rule

Each Sunday, it would be prohibited to trade and perform other sales activities from 6 a.m. until 6 a.m. on the following day. On Christmas Eve and Holy Saturday, trading and performing other sales activities would be allowed, but only until 2 p.m.

Exceptions

There are some exceptions from the general rule, such as certain Sundays before Christmas and Easter and one Sunday during end-of-season sales.

The following are also exempt from the prohibition:

  • sales outlets run by the owner
  • petrol stations
  • bakeries
  • news-stands with a limited surface area
  • souvenir shops
  • pharmacies
  • sales points in hotels and hospitals, airports, railway stations, bus stations, on ships and ferries
  • flower shops with a limited surface area
  • online shops offering non-manufactured goods
  • duty-free zones.

Penal Sanctions

According to the draft, anyone who does not comply with the new law will be subject to a fine, limitation of freedom or imprisonment of up to two years.

We will keep you informed about this subject and how this change may affect you once the new law comes into effect.