The legislation will now proceed to the Senate, the upper house, for further debate.
In Poland, Christmas Eve is traditionally as important a day of family-centered celebration - if not more so - than either Christmas Day itself, or Boxing Day.
The traditional Polish Christmas wafer, called "opłatek," is a symbol of unity and friendship. Photo: PAP/Darek Delmanowicz
Currently, Christmas Eve is a working day in the Polish retail sector until 2 p.m., as per the country's restrictions on Sunday and holiday trading.
Under the new rules, the last three Sundays before Christmas will be designated as trading days, allowing shops to remain open.
The bill, proposed by the Left party, originally sought to implement the changes this year, but amendments from the centrist-liberal Civic Coalition (KO) delayed the effective date to February 1, 2025.
The proposal to make only two Sundays before Christmas trading days, instead of three, was rejected during the legislative process.
Out of 425 lawmakers voting on the measure, 403 were in favor, 10 opposed, and 12 abstained.
Labor unions expressed mixed reactions.
Piotr Ostrowski, head of the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions, called the addition of a third trading Sunday in December "controversial."
Meanwhile, Bartłomiej Mickiewicz, deputy chairman of the national commission of the Solidarity trade union, opposed the compromise of adding trading Sundays in exchange for the new public holiday, saying that his union "absolutely" rejects this trade-off.
Paulina Matysiak, a member of parliament from the Left party, urged lawmakers to consider the needs of retail workers, who face long hours during the holiday season.
While her proposal to reduce the number of trading Sundays gained some support, including from conservative MP Paweł Jabłoński, it ultimately failed to secure a majority, with 215 votes against and 211 in favor.
The law marks a significant shift for Polish workers, particularly in the retail sector, as it grants an additional day off during the holiday season.
However, the controversy surrounding the trading Sundays signals ongoing tensions between economic priorities and labor rights.
(rt/gs)
Source: IAR, PAP