Introduction of a new public holiday (update)

At a glance

• Legislation to include Christmas Eve as a public holiday came into force on 1 Feburary 2025. 
• There are now 14 public holidays in Poland. 
• The law has also increased the number of 'trading Sundays' before Christmas Eve from two to three, with a restriction that employees can only work on two of these Sundays.

Update 17 March 2025

On 24 December 2024, the Act of 6 December 2024 on the amendment of the Act on Public Holidays was signed into law by the President of Poland and subsequently came into force on 1 February 2025. This means that starting this year (2025), Christmas Eve (24 December) will be a public holiday. Consequently, there are now 14 public holidays in Poland.

Pursuant to the Act, work on 24 December will only be allowed in exceptional circumstances, such as the need to carry out emergency repairs. 

Sunday trading restrictions will not apply on the three Sundays before Christmas Eve; however, an employee may perform trade-related work/activities on only two of those Sundays.

Legislation to include Christmas Eve as a public holiday is in its final stages. Changes are also likely to be made at the same time, to the number of 'trading Sundays' (Sundays on which trading services can be provided) before Christmas Eve. According to the wording of the bill, the three Sundays before Christmas Eve (rather than the current two) will be 'trading Sundays'. This will also change the number of Sundays an employee may work in December, introducing a restriction that an employee may only work on two of the three 'trading Sundays' before Christmas Eve.

These changes have not yet been officially enacted and are awaiting the President's signature. According to the bill, the law will come into effect on 1 February 2025, meaning the changes will only apply to Christmas Eve and the Sundays preceding it in 2025.