Establishment of the citizens’ committee on limitation of shop opening hours in Poland
Warsaw, Poland. The initiative group was established with the aim to submit to the Polish Parliament the bill on limitation of trading. The meeting during which the citizens’ committee was formed took place in the Centre for Social Dialogue “Dialogue” in Warsaw . Its main task will be to collect signatures on the project of law.
The initiator of the project is the Trade Union “Solidarity” and this Union is the main participant of the civic committee. Beside TU “Solidarity” the committee comprise representatives of the TU OPZZ, employers in the retail sector, societal organizations and NGOs. Alfred Bujara – the President of TU NSZZ “Solidarity” Commerce is the President of the committee. He is also the initiator and originator of this action.
The author of the bill is Ph.D. Mateusz Warchał who presented its provisions. He pointed out that the bill won’t introduce a ban on the trade but the limitation which happens in Europe. According to Mr. Warchał it won’t be enough to amend the Labour Code and other laws. In his opinion a special law is needed.
Alfred Bujara argued during the meeting that this initiative is primarily aimed at improving the situation and working conditions of Polish workers employed in the commerce sector.
After registration the committee will begin collecting signatures to support the bill which will last maximum three months according to the Polish law. 100 thousands signatures must be collected to submit the bill to the Polish Parliament. After submitting the application with collected signatures in the Parliament there will be the first reading after which the law will go to the parliamentary committee which will ultimately develop the final shape of the bill.
The law assumes limitation of trading in commercial centres, hypermarkets, supermarkets and discounters. It assumes numerous exemptions allowing trade on Sunday eg. petrol stations, railway and bus stations shops, airports shops, free zones, bakeries, emergency infrastructure facilities, hospitals and schools.
The founding meeting was attended by the representatives of numerous organizations: the Polish Craft Association, Catholic Action, KZPRSS Spolem, Polish Chamber of Commerce, OPZZ TU, Leviathan, the Association of Healthy Work, Gabriel Mission, Polish Chamber of Liquid Fuels, Polish Group of Supermarkets.