The Sejm will consider a petition for the introduction of six additional days off. Among the proposals is the actual extension of the May holidays.
The Parliamentary Petitions Committee will address the initiative for the introduction of six additional days off:
The following dates are proposed:
- January 5 — as the "eve" of the Three Kings holiday
- Good Friday — as the «eve» of Holy Saturday
- May 2 — as the «eve» of May 3
- October 31 — as the «eve» of All Saints’ Day
- November 10 — the "eve" of National Independence Day
- December 31 — as the «eve» of New Year’s Day
The author of the petition explains that he intentionally used the term «eve,» referring to the eve of Christmas. He emphasizes that in Polish, this word means not only December 24 but also the day or evening before an important holiday.
“I ask that the same arguments used by the Sejm to justify the introduction of a day off on December 24 be consistently applied to all the mentioned dates, as each of them meets these criteria to a comparable degree,” the appeal states.
According to the author, January 5 would allow for a peaceful conclusion to the festive New Year period and a smoother return to work duties. In turn, extending the Easter holidays would provide more time for preparation for the holiday.
“Imagine: on the evening of May 2, we are grilling. And the kids ask: ‘Dad, why is today a day off?’ — ‘Because it’s an important day for workers and their families. And for work-life balance,’” argues the petition author.
A man who wished to remain anonymous also provides arguments in favor of additional days off in the second half of the year. According to him, the day off on October 31 would allow for an early visit to the graves of loved ones, reducing traffic on November 1, as well as easing the combination of work and family responsibilities.
The position of the Sejm’s lawyers
The fate of the initiative is still uncertain, but the legal service of the Sejm views it skeptically. Experts believe that introducing six additional days off could pose a serious burden on the economy.
They also point out the author’s argument that this is an alternative to a four-day work week.
Experts from the Bureau of Expertise and Regulatory Impact Assessment of the Chancellery of the Sejm note that this decision raises doubts as an alternative to a four-day work week, as the Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Policy is currently conducting a pilot project on reduced working hours, and changes in the holiday calendar could affect its results.
