The President of the Trade Association of Germany (HDE), Alexander von Preen, has asked for more scope for companies at Sunday openings.
Municipalities and retailers: Inside, on which Sundays they want to open, from Preen should be able to decide on the newspapers of the Funke media group. “I wish this flexibility. Above all, we finally need more legal certainty for possible Sunday openings in our cities,” said von Preen.
The shopping law law, according to which business generally have to remain closed on Sundays and public holidays, applies nationwide. However, certain shop opening times are regulated differently depending on the state. This also applies to Sundays open to sales.
The individual regulations do not determine on which Sundays must be opened, but only set framework guidelines. As a rule, a maximum number of on Sundays is set. The open Sundays must be linked to an event.
“Entrepreneurs: Inside need freedom”
With a view to the event, Von Preen said that this restriction had to be gone nationwide – and legally secure: “Entrepreneurs: Inside need this freedom to decide, we are now opening up now.”
Companies could never enforce Sunday openings against their own workforce: “But if everyone is deciding together for example that the shops open on Sunday, but remain closed on Monday, why not? So much flexibility should be possible.”
The HDE president refused to determine an upper limit for Sunday openings. A discussion about the number of days does not continue: “You should simply have the companies decide independently, taking into account what is correct and possible at the respective location.”