Thursday, October 25, 2007

POLISH GOVERNMENT TO BAN SUNDAY BUYING

Incoming Polish government to overturn holiday-shopping law?

Warsaw, Oct. 25, 2007 (CWNews.com) - The Civic Platform Party (PO), which has emerged victorious from Poland’s parliamentary elections, plans to overturn legislation enacted by the outgoing Law and Justice Party banning shopping on holidays.

Zbigniew Chiebowski, a PO parliamentarian who has been touted as a possible finance minister in the new government, explained, “People have to make a choice. Whoever wants to, let them shop on holidays. Whoever doesn’t, let them stay home.”

The legislation against holiday shopping is scheduled to go into effect on November 1, for the feast of All Saints. The law also forbids forbids shopping on New Year’s Day, Easter Sunday, Pentecost Sunday, the feast of Corpus Christi, the feast of the Assumption, November 11 (Poland’s Independence Day), and Christmas Day.

The ban was passed by the outgoing government with the support of all other major political parties, except the PO, which has a strong free-market orientation. The legislation was also supported by labor unions, although it was opposed by retailers. A representative of Poland’s Solidarity labor union, Alfred Bujara, said that workers might strike if they believe the new government is acting against their interests. He added: “I want to know if PO is acting in favor of Polish interests or in favor of those of Western European chain store retailers.”

Ironically November 1-- the day when the new law would go into effect-- is also the day when the PO is expected to announce the formation of a new government. The Civic Platform Party is in the midst of coalition talks with the post-communist Polish People’s Party (PSL). One PSL parliamentarian and economics expert, Marek Sawicki, said, “On holidays, people want to rest.”

Source: http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=54387

P.S. Bolds added for emphasis on Sunday shopping prohibition. Blogmaster.

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