Labor Minister Orders PIP Inspection of Intermarché for Sunday Trading Loophole

Poland’s Minister of Labor, Agnieszka Dziemanowicz-Bąk, has ordered an urgent inspection of an Intermarché store in Brzesko following allegations that the retailer used a fake “reading club” to bypass Sunday trade restrictions.

Regulatory Evasion in Brzesko

The Ministry of Family, Labor, and Social Policy received reports regarding an Intermarché supermarket on Mickiewicza Street 29, which allegedly circumvented Sunday trading bans by establishing a “Reader’s Club” on the premises.

Government Intervention

On June 23, 2026, Minister Agnieszka Dziemanowicz-Bąk officially requested that the Chief Labor Inspector (PIP) launch an immediate investigation into the outlet, placing the proceedings under special oversight.

Ministry Policy Stance

The ministry clarified that trading exemptions are intended for facilities genuinely located within libraries, cinemas, or cultural centers, rather than retail stores that artificially incorporate cultural activities to manipulate the law.

Potential Legal Consequences

Should the inspection confirm that the “Reader’s Club” is a fiction designed to circumvent labor laws, the owners face significant financial penalties. This case serves as a warning to other retail chains that the government will aggressively challenge creative interpretations of the trading ban.