For amendment to the Act on non-working days and some other bills, 403 MPs voted, 10 were against and 12 abstained.
Earlier, the Sejm rejected, among others, PiS and Left amendmentsy to make December 24 a day off from this year. The Razem group’s amendment, which restored the original shape of the project so that two, not three, Sundays preceding Christmas Eve would be commercial, did not receive a majority of votes.
PiS in alliance with Raz
Paulina Matysiak (Razem) appealed from the parliamentary podium to support trade workers who work hard and watch the parliamentary votes. The amendment of the Razem group was also supported by PiS MP Paweł Jabłoński. “Please note – the Left has submitted a good project, this project is substantive, Law and Justice supports it,” he emphasized. Ultimately, 211 MPs voted for the amendment by the Razem group, 215 were against and three abstained.
Free Christmas Eve. The project was submitted by the Left
The amendment to the Act passed by the Parliament provides for the establishment of December 24 as a day off for all employees, including employees of commercial establishments, for whom, in accordance with the Act on the Restriction of Trade on Sundays and Public Holidays, Christmas Eve is a working day until 2 p.m.
She submitted the bill to the Sejm Leftwho wanted the changes to come into force this year. On Tuesday, at the meeting of the Economy and Development and Social Policy and Family Committees, amendments were introduced to the project by the Civic Coalition, so that the new regulations would come into force on February 1, 2025, and that three Sundays before Christmas Eve would be commercial. Currently, in accordance with the Act on Restriction of Trade on Sundays and Holidays, Christmas Eve is a business day until 2 p.m.
Trade unionists do not like the additional shopping Sunday
They commented on the votes in the Sejm in an interview with PAP trade union representatives. They pointed out that although the idea of establishing a free Christmas Eve is expected, the introduction of an additional shopping Sunday in December into the law raises doubts.
President of the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions Piotr Ostrowski He assessed that the third commercial Sunday in December was a controversial solution.
On the other hand deputy chairman of the National Commission of NSZZ “Solidarność” Bartłomiej Mickiewicz he emphasized that if working Sundays are to be exchanged for a free Christmas Eve, his union says “absolutely not” to this solution.
