Will Sunday shop closures be reintroduced in Hungary?

According to experts, a full Sunday closure would now be justified for commercial enterprises due to the skyrocketing electricity and gas prices. As for now, stores are considering closing at midday on the last day of the week. But when can the initiative of shop closures on Sunday come into effect?

As Zoltán Karsai, President of the Trade Union of Commercial Employees says, it is a huge cost-saving opportunity for a commercial enterprise if it has to cool or heat a store half a day less a week, or even light it at all. This is why, with the current energy prices, it is worth renegotiating the issue of closing shops on Sundays, which was already introduced in 2015-2016. The expert emphasized that the skyrocketing electricity and gas prices would now justify a full Sunday closure. However, for now, the target for commercial enterprises is to close at noon on the seventh day of the week.

According to the expert, another important issue to consider is the scheduling of work. As retail remains one of the sectors most affected by labour shortages, closing shops at noon on Sundays could lead to different weekend shifts and the bonuses received for them. As an advocacy group, the well-being of workers is their first and foremost concern, and they must take this important aspect into account.

As the Hungarian news portal Világgazdaság reports, although several parties have approached their organisation, the trade union does not want the question of partial Sunday closure to become a political issue. The union’s questionnaire has already been filled by thousands of people. Accordingly, trade workers are asked the following question: „We would like to rest on Sunday afternoon. Will you join us?” From September, the union leader will continue to collect signatures on paper in retail outlets, and they expect a real breakthrough.

In case of a significant support, the issue of Sunday shop closures could get into the hands of decision-makers soon. In this scenario, the expert says the new system could be introduced as early as 1 January. But the question can be divisive. Some market players are less interested in the idea of closing shops on Sundays. For example, DIY stores, where there is usually heavy weekend traffic, as well as bigger supermarkets as many people do their big shopping on the last day of the week. However, Sunday afternoon is hardly the peak time for sales of technical goods, for example, reports Blikk.

The Sunday shop closure in Hungary, also known as „Free Sunday”, was first initiated in 2014. Accordingly, shopping centres and shops with a floor area of more than 400 square metres were not allowed to open on Sundays. The amendment was in force for a year, from 15 March 2015 to 23 April 2016. After the measure was lifted, most of the affected retail outlets opened the next day, 24 April. The last meeting between government representatives and trade unions took place in October 2018, but the negotiations did not have any results. This time, however, the soaring energy prices caused by the war in Ukraine could overwrite previous ideas.

Read alsoGazprom: 60% rise in gas prices expected in Hungary this winter

Source: vg.hu, blikk.hu