Government considers Sunday reopening of shops?

The government would rather change the law that prohibits most shops from opening on Sundays than risk the losing of a referendum, nol.hu reports.

It is almost certain that the referendum confirming the ban on the opening of shops will not get through the Curia of Hungary. In this situation, the loss of prestige would not be so great, if they modified the law themselves.

The government has been reported to be making inquires about retail chains’ stand on the ban. Multinational companies have managed the loss of Sunday customers by extending their opening hours on Friday and Saturday. Moreover, now workers’ Sunday wage supplement is no longer an expense. However, smaller chains are affected more negatively. They suffer not only because of the Sunday ban, but also because they have lost many of their customers to the competition on Fridays and Saturdays. According to nol.hu. These shops would endorse the lift on the ban, although workers’ increased wages might pose difficulties for them.

Surveys on public opinion show that people supporting the Sunday ban constitute a minority; likewise politicians, close to the government, are aware that a referendum on maintaining the ban most likely cannot be won.

Copy editor: bm

Source: nol.hu