The President of the Trade Union emphasizes that in 2006 there were 55 million worked but unpaid hours in retail, which could cover 24 thousand new jobs.
A part of the Trade Act regulating the work of shops on Sundays and holidays comes into effect on January 1 of next year. According to this part of the law, from June 1 to October 1 and during December, all stores will be able to operate on Sundays from 7 AM to 2 PM, while gas stations, shops at border crossings, rest areas, train stations, airports, ports, and similar establishments will exceptionally be allowed to operate every day from 0 to 24 hours.
Throughout the year, owners of stalls and stands selling flowers and candles outside markets, kiosks, bakeries, and similar establishments will be able to operate on Sundays from 7 AM to 2 PM. Sales facilities within hospitals, hotels, spas, and similar institutions will also be allowed to operate.
With the amendments to the Trade Act in October of this year, local authorities were enabled to decide on weekly working hours themselves, allowing for the possibility of extending working hours from the previously set 6 AM to 9 PM to 24 hours. The Trade Act came into effect on August 2, but due to employers’ announcements that a sudden ban on Sunday work could lead to the layoffs of a large number of workers, the implementation of part of the law was postponed to give employers time to adjust their operations to the new conditions.
