Dino Faces Prosecutor Investigation and Labor Ministry Intervention Amid Layoff Controversy

The Polish Ministry of Labor and Social Policy has stepped into a growing conflict between the supermarket chain Dino and its workforce following reports of systemic labor rights violations and employee layoffs.

Trade unions have escalated the matter beyond administrative complaints.

Allegations of Irregular Dismissals

The government scrutiny follows a wave of complaints regarding the treatment of Dino’s staff. As reported by Next Gazeta.pl and Bankier.pl, the legal focus centers on numerous allegations of misconduct and a pattern of irregular dismissal procedures within the retail chain.

Labor representatives are specifically challenging the legality of how employment contracts were terminated. Business Insider Polska reports that union members are now relying on the prosecutor’s office to determine if these layoffs were lawful or if they constituted a direct violation of labor laws.

A Return to the Negotiating Table

Legal escalation has not stopped the push for a diplomatic solution. Dino’s management and trade union representatives have agreed to resume talks, with INNPoland.pl reporting that new dates for mediation have been set to address the friction between corporate leadership and the workforce.

It is a dual-track approach. While the unions seek internal resolutions to the grievances that triggered the government’s interest, the external investigations by the Ministry of Labor and the prosecutor’s office continue to move forward.

Administrative Review vs. Criminal Inquiry

The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy typically acts when systemic concerns regarding the Labor Code emerge. In this case, WP Finanse notes the ministry is reacting to both the volume of layoffs and the specific nature of the employees’ accusations.

However, the prosecutor’s office notification represents a separate legal trajectory. While the ministry monitors labor compliance, the prosecutor’s office will examine whether any criminal statutes were violated during personnel management or restructuring, according to Business Insider Polska.

Dino has not yet issued a detailed public rebuttal to the unions’ claims. For now, the company is focusing on the scheduled mediation sessions to curb the impact of the unrest.