Poland explores shorter working hours for seniors and retail reform

The Polish Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy is exploring new labor regulations aimed at encouraging older citizens to remain in the workforce. Minister Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk has stated that the government does not intend to raise the statutory retirement age. Instead, the focus is on providing incentives, such as shorter working hours for seniors, to allow for voluntary extended employment.

A pilot program involving 78 employers and nearly 5,000 employees is scheduled to test various models of reduced working hours with maintained salaries starting in 2026.

Separately, the Ministry is reviewing a petition regarding Sunday trading regulations. The proposal suggests that employees working weekends or in shift systems should be guaranteed a continuous block of rest. Specifically, the petition calls for two consecutive days off, totaling a minimum of 59 hours of uninterrupted rest (combining 48 hours of leave with daily rest periods). The Ministry is expected to respond to this proposal by November 5, 2026.