Leclerc in Radom Opens on Non-Trading Sundays

15 June 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

E.Leclerc in Radom uses a reading corner to bypass the Sunday trading ban Poland, despite Supreme Court rulings.

E.Leclerc in Radom opened its doors every Sunday, including non-trading ones, by launching a reading corner. Consequently the supermarket advertises a “Czytosfera” club where customers can borrow or buy books.

Table of Contents

Why the Sunday trading ban Poland matters

The move raises legal and social questions. Moreover the shop relies on Article 6(1)(10) of the law. Therefore it claims the store now hosts a cultural facility. However the Supreme Court has ruled differently in 14 decisions. In those rulings the court said a shop cannot simply host a library to escape the ban. Consequently courts require that the primary entity must be cultural, not the retailer.

How the Radom solution works and why it faces challenge

The Radom store set up a dedicated Reading Nook and a Reader’s Club. In addition staff register borrowers at customer service. Moreover the retailer promises author events and charity book donations. However the legal mechanism depends on reclassifying part of the store as a cultural facility. Therefore inspectors from the State Labour Inspectorate (PIP) may treat this as a disguise. In practice PIP inspects sites and reports violations. Consequently a court decides on fines and closures. Meanwhile retailers calculate profits from extra open Sundays. Therefore some chains accept legal risks over short-term revenue.

Legal background and enforcement reality

The law exempts places of culture, sport, education, tourism and leisure. However the Supreme Court clarified that the cultural unit must be the main unit. In addition the law treats a shop with a small reading corner as still a shop. Therefore previous appeals favored PIP and the Prosecutor General. Moreover penalties range from 1,000 to 100,000 złoty. However courts set fines case by case. Consequently a large hypermarket can easily recoup fines with one extra Sunday of sales. Therefore enforcement struggles remain uneven. In 2025 PIP found issues in one third of inspected shops. Moreover inspectors opened 2,198 checks across 2,434 premises. Meanwhile unions call for higher fines. Therefore critics say current sanctions do not deter rule-stretching.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: If you are an expat, Poland limits most shop openings on certain Sundays. You may still find some stores open using reading corners or clubs. Note that authorities like ZUS and NFZ handle social insurance and health care (ZUS = social security, NFZ = national health fund). Also stores risk a “mandat” (ticket or fine) if inspectors act. You should carry ID like PESEL for local registrations only when needed (PESEL = national ID number for residents).

What this means for shoppers in Radom is clear. You can shop at E.Leclerc on non-trading Sundays from 10:00 to 17:00. However remember the legal status could change after inspection. Moreover courts could later order fines or closures. Therefore if you rely on Sunday shopping, check announcements. In addition four officially allowed trading Sundays remain this year. Those dates include 28 June, 30 August, and two December dates.

Finally this case signals a wider policy debate. Unions want stronger penalties. Moreover lawmakers may revisit rules and enforcement. Therefore expats should watch local news for changes. In addition consumer habits and shop strategies will likely evolve.

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