Intermarche opens on Polish Sundays using Reader Club exemption

Polish retailer Intermarche has been operating stores on Sundays despite the nationwide ban by classifying a small reading area as a cultural activity. The “Reader Club” set up in a Poznań store, with shelves of books and a modest reading corner, allows the outlet to remain open under the law’s exemption for cultural facilities. A company spokesperson said, “Decisions about additional services belong to the owners of individual outlets,” and added that the group supports conditions that enable trade.

The broader legal framework permits only seven trading Sundays a year, with specific dates listed for 2024 and penalties ranging from 1,000 zł to 100,000 zł for violations. Recent proposals to add an extra working Sunday in December are being reviewed by the Constitutional Tribunal, highlighting ongoing debates over the balance between consumer convenience and workers’ rights.