The Alternative Union trade union is calling on all political forces to work on a bill introducing 2.5 times higher wages for working on Sundays and holidays than for working on weekdays. Under the current law, the vast majority of workers who perform paid work on statutory public holidays do not receive any additional remuneration. Higher rates are paid only when Sunday is an extra workday.
In our view, higher rates for working on Sundays and holidays should be paid regardless of the industry sector and workplace. A 2.5 times higher salary would be a decent equivalent for working on a day when most Poles are off work.
At the same time, we believe that current Sunday trade regulations are wrong and do not fulfil their role. Thousands of shops are still open on Sundays and public holidays, but only in this segment of the market where workers’ rights are most often violated, wages are lowest and commodity prices highest. Banning trade in shopping malls and large stores in order to support the smallest shops and gas stations works to the disadvantage of workers and consumers alike. We believe that only those shops that are able to pay high wages to their workers should be open on Sundays.
