August 31 is Trade Sunday. This means that Poles can shop on that day, including in shopping malls. This is one of only seven commercial Sundays provided for in the year. The next dates fall only in December.
The Act limiting trade on Sundays entered into force on March 1, 2018, and from 2020 purchases can only be done in seven selected Sundays a year. These are the last Sundays of January, April, June and August, Sunday before Easter and three consecutive Sundays preceding Christmas.
It is worth adding that the regulations provide for the 32 exceptions to the prohibition. Trade on non -commercial Sunday can take place, among others in confectioneries, ice cream parlors, florists, gas stations, press stores and cafes. Postal facilities are also an exception, if at least 40 percent Their revenues come from postal activities.
Trade Sunday and trade ban. Harsh penalties for breaking the regulations
Store owners are threatened with high penalties for non -compliance with the ban on trade on Sundays – from PLN 1,000 to even 100,000. zloty. In the event of persistent violation of the regulations, the court may order a penalty of restriction of liberty.
Trade Sundays in 2025
The next commercial Sunday is only in December. Here's how the trade Sunday calendar is presented in 2025:
- January 26
- April 13
- April 27
- June 29
- August 31
- December 7
- December 14
- December 21
From February 1 this year, an amendment to the Act is in force that introduces changes in the organization of work in December. Christmas Eve, so far a working day until 2pm, has become a day off for all employees, including employed in trade. At the same time, three Sundays preceding Christmas Eve were recognized as commercial Sundays. In addition, the new regulations limit the possibility of working on December Sundays – trade employees will be able to work a maximum of two of them.
At the end of December 2022, President Andrzej Duda sent the Free Christmas Eve act to the Constitutional Tribunal in subsequent control mode. His reservations relate to the introduction of the third, additional commercial Sunday in December, which raises doubts in the context of the protection of trade employees.
