Sunday opening in retail: Trade associations are calling for all shops to be open on Sundays

After the federal government announced that it would extend Sunday opening hours for bakeries and pastry shops, trade associations are calling for opening hours on Sundays to be made available to other retailers as well. The general manager of the Main Association of German Retail (HDE) Stefan Genth said that Picture-Newspaper: »Shopping is also a leisure experience. That’s why we’re committed to retail openings on Sundays to keep city centers attractive and lively.«

The leaders of the Union and SPD presented their reform plans last week. The controversial flexibilization of working hours is not coming for the time being, but a decision has already been made: the opening times for bakeries and pastry shops are to be expanded. In the future, companies will be allowed to use their staff for up to eight hours on Sundays and public holidays – as will hospitals and restaurants.

“In the online age, that’s a thing of the past.”

The managing director of the Berlin-Brandenburg trade association, Nils Busch-Petersen, also sees an opportunity for retailers. “We should finally take a step forward and put Sundays at the discretion of merchants and customers,” said Busch-Petersen. »Anyone who sells a shirt on Sundays in Germany is committing a criminal offense. That’s yesterday’s news in the online age.”

Saxony’s trade association head René Glaser has also spoken out in favor of opening Sunday opening times. “According to current law, a special occasion is always required for Sunday openings,” said Glaser Picture-Newspaper. »The requirements are sometimes unclear. Municipalities are hardly able to obtain legally secure permits. There is an urgent need for a change in the law.”

A complex network of federal and state laws currently regulates when bakeries can be open. In Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, bakers are allowed to work three hours on Sundays for production and delivery; in North Rhine-Westphalia it is a maximum of five hours. Those who were open longer usually took advantage of a loophole: businesses with a café area follow the restaurant law and are more flexible.