Lidl plans to open on Good Friday irks GRTU members

Mr Josh Smiler

Apr 22nd 2011, 15:10

Religious fundamentalism is always wrong be it Islamic or Catholic or whatever religion. And an Ayatollah approach in such matters goes against the respect of a minority which has the right to operate a business or to shop without being hindered by religious interference. I would ask the EU Commission office in Malta: is this permitted by EU law? I think Lidl should take up the matter with the EU Commission.

Mr Charles Caligari Conti

Apr 22nd 2011, 14:54

No one should work on Good Friday. Apart from the fact that this is the most important day for a Christian, the Maltese society in general upholds this day as a tradition. No one will spoil it. Not even LIDL.

M. Grech

Apr 22nd 2011, 12:35

A load of usual hogwash coming out of VF and the GRTU. This appears that it has all to do with commercial interests fo its members as I saw shops selling same stuff as Lidl open today. What hipocrisy in the name of religion and a mockery of the local brand of catholics. Serves no one least of all the church.

George Falzon

Apr 22nd 2011, 11:53

"GRTU said that if there is one day in the calendar which all Maltese agree should be kept holy and be maintained a special family day, it is certainly Good Friday."

What brief gives GRTU the authority to speak on behalf of the Catholic Church and the family? Isn't GRTU the union of retailers and traders? Why is GRTU hindering those customers who want to make their purchases on Good Friday?

George Falzon

Apr 22nd 2011, 11:39

With the same reasoning, why doesn't the Legal Notice close also hotels, restaurants and the other venue that open on Good Friday? Why doesn't Government give a day's leave on Good Friday to ALL employees, including ALL hospital staff, policemen, soldiers, Customs and the rest? This action is taken simply to protect other business who opt to close and not serve the citizens on Good Friday. This is NOT a free market at all.

Mr Joe Xuereb

Apr 22nd 2011, 11:04

GRTU? Vince Farrugia? Two years ago he didn't object to the opening of retailing outlets. He felt guilty and went to confession. As penance he was told to forbid trading this year. And he's none too popular (other than the Lidl Easter egg on his face).
I was going to say I am worried, concerned that..... In fact I am neither. But it DOES cross my mind that exposing three-year-olds to the flagellated realistic figure of a man and they are told not to cry because he 'died' to save them - that, in MY book, is child-abuse. That's when a lifetime's indoctrination starts which is well-nigh impossible to shake off. This introduction to being made to feel guilty a` la Malta Kattoliċissma takes a scrumptious Lidl biscuit.
I think even non-church-goers attend this Friday's pageantry. The Maltese like a public display, an outing. Non-church-goers even went to wave flags at the pope. Is it sunny in Malta today? Because, according to tradition, it's supposed to be overcast.

Mr Joe Xuereb

Apr 22nd 2011, 11:01

GRTU? Vince Farrugia? Two years ago he didn't object to the opening of retailing outlets. He felt guilty and went to confession. As penance he was told to forbid trading this year. And he's none too popular (other than the Lidl Easter egg on his face).
I was going to say I am worried, concerned that..... In fact I am neither. But it DOES cross my mind that exposing three-year-olds to the flagellated realistic figure of a man and they are told not to cry because he 'died' to save them - that, in MY book, is child-abuse. That's when a lifetime's indoctrination starts which is well-nigh impossible to shake off. This introduction to being made to feel guilty a` la Malta Kattoliċissma takes a scrumptious Lidl biscuit.
I think even non-church-goers attend this Friday's pageantry. The Maltese like a public display, an outing. Non-church-goers even went to wave flags at the pope. Is it sunny in Malta today? Because, according to tradition, it's supposed to be overcast.

Owen Farrugia

Apr 22nd 2011, 09:52

Seriously... so because the majority of the country is Roman Catholic, it decides to stop everyone's life... its 2011 and if a person wants to go shopping on Good Friday, he should not be halted by GRTU or anyone.

Ms pat muscat

Apr 22nd 2011, 07:45

Censorships on playwrights, on drama, no to divorce, no votes for 18 year olds, no shopping on Good Friday: whats next in line, the establishment of the 'morality police' like Iran? This island is turning into one big joke!

Jonathan McBee

Apr 22nd 2011, 02:33

If you are a religious person, do all the things traditionally done on Good Friday while staying away from Lidle. If you happen to need to buy some groceries tomorrow, then be glad Lidl will be the only place that will be open on an otherwise dead day. It can't get simpler than that.

I for one cannot stand all that has to do with Good Friday and will be going to watch a movie with friends. You will not find me berating anyone who decides to go to any Good Friday activity just because I don't like it myself.

Also, "In a statement, it said that if there is one day in the calendar which all Maltese agree should be kept holy and be maintained a special family day, it is certainly Good Friday" .... Really now? I thought the Church says that Easter is THE holiday for Christians, even more so than Christmas (which is an outright golden commercial opportunity nowadays).

Mr Daniel Schembri

Apr 21st 2011, 20:52

Stop imposing your religion on everyone

X'pajjiz ta ndhil...
Oppressjoni habba naqa mitologija.

Mrs Lucia Vella Vella

Apr 21st 2011, 19:33

Come on 2011 qeghdin ta min irid imur jixtri jmur u min le joqghod. Jekk idejaqha il-Lidl miftuh il-GRTU missha taghlaq ir restaurants, bars, cinemas u casinos

Victor Rodenas

Apr 21st 2011, 17:29

If casinos can open ,so should everybody else.

Mr Chris Grillo

Apr 21st 2011, 17:12

According to the last Census.... remind me please? Close to 50% of people do not attend church... so that makes them free to do other things....

This law coming from an MEP and an MP who earn many many many thousands of Euros between them..

Will they make THEIR drivers work?

Ghada pastizzi, ravjul, u Lager (li nista nixtri liberalment)... DEFICJENTI!!!!!

I wonder if the Times will publish my comment.

Mr JOSEPH ABELA

Apr 21st 2011, 16:48

The thing is now , we are EU members, and have to accept them.

Mr Jimmy Magro

Apr 21st 2011, 16:44

Malta needs to enforce a simple principle of political governance. State and Church should be seperate and the calendar of both entitites should be seperate as well.

In a modern state, there is no need for the State to protect the Church and/or vice versa.

As one blogger commented we have 50% of Malta providing services - and not all of emergency nature and then LIDL has to close down for Good Friday. Does this mean that employees who work on Good Friday are second class citizens or what?

Our country needs to be ahead of others and we should serve as a "best practice" to others and never fall into the trap that ties to the past where the heads of the state and the church used to sleep in the same bed (metaphorically speaking).

Mr Chris Grillo

Apr 21st 2011, 16:23

Falliment totali tal GRTU, tal Gvern, u ta kull raguni religjuza u mbarazz iehor.

Ghixu u hallu lil min jghix!

Ghada sagrificcju , 3 tuzzani ravjul! Dak sagrificcju!!!

U halluna ja qabda dojoq!

Mr m farrugia

Apr 21st 2011, 14:15

pajjiz immexxi mill qaddisin ghandna, qisna pajjiz musulman estremist sirna

jekk vera kullhadd ihoss li din gurnata qaddisa, kullhadd seta qaghad id-dar flok mar jixtri mill Lidl, imma mhux nimponu fuq haddiehor.

skuza tajba GRTU. ahjar tara is-serq fil wicc mill membri taghha il GRTU flok timponi granet religjuzi.
per ezempju jista xi hadd jghidilna kif cikkulata li tqum 35c tixtriha 45c min newsagent ta l- isptar , jigifieri 25% ghola. l-isptar zgur mhux l-airport u ma jiggustifkax dawn il prezzijiet.

Anthony Farrugia

Apr 21st 2011, 12:14

As usual a mountain out of a molehill and the GRTU "jew nilghab jew inhassar" attitude. LIDL should have been allowed to open and customers would have had the choice to vote with their feet; I am sure LIDL know how to add up their sums whether they would make a profit by opening tomorrow or perhaps they were treating it as a loss-leader. One other thing, how is it that the legal notice was issued in a matter of hours when in other cases days, nay weeks or even months have to pass ?

Liam Kelly

Apr 21st 2011, 11:26

Some poor comments here...Seems some people cannot wait to blame religion!

GRTU should just be happy that Lidl employees actually have a job in the first place., Many of us do not and would not be moaning and turning our noses up at the opportunity to make some money.

Mr Geoff Gibson

Apr 21st 2011, 10:30

so GRTU, on Good Friday, I won't be able to catch a bus (driven by someone employed to drive it), get off in Sliema and have a drink and lunch at Black Gold (operated by bar-staff and waitress being employed to run it), then jump in a taxi to St Julians (driven by another person employed to drive it), buy some tourist beach-towels from the corner store (operated by someone earning money to be there).

Take the beach-towels on another bus (driven by another employee) to Mellieha beach where I hire a sun lounger (and pay my money to a deck-chair attendant who is employed to serve me), finally buying an ice-cream from the kiosk that is also open.

To round of the lovely Good Friday, you are telling me I won't be able to nip across the road to Seabank, where I get staff there to serve me with a few drinks, and a meal in the restaurant (with chefs, waitresses and bar-staff in attendance).

but wait....I CAN do all that....

..but what I can't do is buy a tin of cat food from Lidl. Yes, that makes a LOT of sense!

Mr Andre Gatt

Apr 21st 2011, 10:23

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080313/local/call-for-shops-to-open-on-public-holidays-before-easter.200094

and 2 years ago GRTU asked the government to let shops open on Good Friday....yes indeed in two years we become more christian....

Mr Geoff Gibson

Apr 21st 2011, 10:21

Any retailer, no matter what they sell, should be allowed to open at anytime they choose (unless a licence is required - alcohol etc).

If the 'Maltese' people choose not to shop at certain times or on certain days then the shop owner/manager will see the resulting loss in their profits and think twice about opening again during the same period next time around.

If, on the other hand, certain opening hours result in a large turn-out of customers and a profit for the shop, then they should have the right to carry on opening at those times in the future.

Let the retailers AND customers make their own decisions about when they operate.

E. Zammit

Apr 21st 2011, 10:19

Oh thank God for the GRTU for getting their priorities straight! Just live and let live!

Ms Yaz Tabone

Apr 21st 2011, 10:09

this is only makin me dislike religion even more :/

Mr Mario Micallef

Apr 21st 2011, 09:47

GRTU is so christian in her values that it pressed for the customers to fork out the money for fuel stations to upgrade!!! rich get richer poor get poorer!!

Mr Daniel Soler

Apr 21st 2011, 09:41

Well Done GRTU these are the most important things to focus on! ... (sarcasm)

Mr Lawrence Camilleri

Apr 21st 2011, 09:19

I am one, like many others I talked to, who will boycott Lidl for the rest of this and all of all next years in my lifetime. This is not a question of Christian extremist ideology but respect to the day when the Saviour died for all mankind to be saved.

Mr Andre Gatt

Apr 21st 2011, 08:52

Shall the GRTU to respect all maltese christian values order its same members to close their bars, restaurants on good friday ?

Mr Charlo Seychell

Apr 21st 2011, 08:16

Could the GRTU qualify the "ALL" it referred to? I am surely not one of the "ALL".

Mr Anthony Mizzi

Apr 21st 2011, 07:39

Ha jdumu jikkiedjaw tal-GRTU ? Ghal Jum il-Helsien u Jum ir-Republika, Fest Nazzjonali irridu il-KULLHADD jiftah imma ghal Gimgha l-Kbira Supermarket Le?

X'inhi l'agenda tal-GRTU? Ewropeja zgur li ma hiex!

Mr Angelo Camilleri

Apr 21st 2011, 07:32

is the GRTU going to stop all the people that do DIY at home when they have a day off too? its still counts as work.

Mr George Portelli

Apr 21st 2011, 06:55

How silly of GRTU. Maybe tal-qghaq and tal-pastizzi can sell during the procession of Good Friday but not a supermarket because it is not situated in the midst of the procession! Hilarious.

Ramon Casha

Apr 21st 2011, 06:15

If "all Maltese agree [it] should be kept holy and be maintained a special family day", then nobody will go shopping from Lidl and they won't need GRTU or the government to tell them not to open again.

Ivan Attard

Apr 20th 2011, 22:21

Why LIDL? What about the hundreds of small confectionery shops and restaurants etc.
Just reminded me, I have to catch up on my shopping so I shall visit LIDL this Good Friday!
What extremism are we aspiring for!!!
Anzi this time this complaint was not coming from the mouth of the Gozo bishop!!!!!

Joe Scerri

Apr 20th 2011, 22:02

Can the GRTU tell us what is their position about restaurants offering a Good Friday dinner?

Please stop this hypocrisy.

Charles J. Buttigieg

Apr 20th 2011, 21:17

Let's be franc Vince, you are not really defending Maltese traditions and the spiritual value of Good Friday are you? Lidl is working in a free enterprising ambiance and you and your members have got no right to deny them from opening 24\7 if the want too. The Consumer comes first.

D. A . Agius

Apr 20th 2011, 21:04

Look, whoever wants to open should do so. I don't think this one day will be much different for some other people, shops and locations.

On the other hand, all Catholic devouts can choose to be observant. They can even refrain from buying karamelli, qaghaq, buying from confectionerys, not go to paceville, etc.

On the third hand now, religious fanatics should do something else to confirm their beliefs, and accept that not everyone on this island is a catholic, especially non-observant ones!

Mark Aloisio

Apr 20th 2011, 20:59

I can eat at a restaurant on Good Friday. I can watch a movie at the cinema. I can go to the casino. I can listen to the radio or watch TV. I can even buy an ice cream from one of a zillion kiosks at Good Friday processions. Why can't I go to Lidl?

Shawn Grech

Apr 20th 2011, 20:45

My fiancée works at a local Hotel, she is working on Good Friday and also works on most public holidays. She is Maltese, so shouldn't she enjoy a ''special family day'' with her family on Good Friday too? No, because if she is allowed Good Friday off then all her other colleagues should be allowed off and so then how will the hotel function? If Lidl wants to open it should, and i believe they will have customers just like any other normal day if not even more!

Mr Richard Caruana

Apr 20th 2011, 20:29

Was at one of their stores this afternoon and the notice with the extended opening hours had the line for
Friday covered up.

Mr Ed Scicluna

Apr 20th 2011, 20:15

Sorry Mr. Vince Farrugia,

Not ALL Maltese agree with the GRTU's assertion. Some of us have a different view or religious belief, except we try to ram it down other people's throats nor attempt to gain popular support.
If you wish to gain mileage from such a preposterous statement, you surely should include other religious days - there should be no distinctions from one religious day to another? - where pagan rites rule and some of your members' outlets prosper.,

Yours etc,

Ed Scicluna

Mr Patrick Zammit

Apr 20th 2011, 19:47

Why did the GRTU target Lidl, of all retailers. Wasn't one of the reasons the GRTU was in favour of Malta's EU membership specificaly because of increased competition?

Kenneth Grima

Apr 20th 2011, 19:45

JUST LIVE AND LET LIVE, I AGREE THAT SHOPS OPEN ON GOOD FRIDAY ON SUNDAYS AND CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR AND EVERY POSSIBLE HOLIDAY FEAST AND NORMAL DAY. SORRY GRTU I AM MALTESE SO YOUR STATISTICS ARE WRONG NOT ALL MALTESE AGREE WITH YOUR STUPID CHRISTIAN ESTREMIST IDEOLOGY WE ARE NOT TALIBANS.

Ramon Farrugia

Apr 20th 2011, 19:32

Ommi ma x'pajjiz ridikolu.....naqbel hafna ma' Charlie Borg....nahseb jekk Lidl jiftah mhu ser ikollu l-ebda klijent Malti....u halluna....u fejn tidhol il-GRTU f'dan ir-rigward?? Jekk dan ghandha titkellem il-knisja, hekk u hekk Malta dejjem mil-knisja tmexxiet u l-ahhar kelma dejjem il-knisja qalitha. Jiena dejjem qbilt li kulhadd jaghmel li jrid religjon u mhux religjon ghax sa fejn naf jien Malta huwa pajjiz demokratiku. Ara vera ragunament Taliban kwazi gej mill-GRTU!! Insomma l-Ghid it-Tajjeb lil kulhadd u nassigurakom li jekk tmorru tixtru minghand il-Lidl fil-Gimgha l-Kbira m'intomx sejrin l-infern. :)

Mr mark johnson

Apr 20th 2011, 19:23

My local shops are open in the morning on Good Friday.

What's the difference?

Mr Neil Dent

Apr 20th 2011, 19:12

The structure of the laws concerning the days and hours when certain businesses are allowed to open or not need to be radically amended, if only to bring come in line with the 21st century.

A Maltese example: Shopping Mall 'A' is prevented from opening on Sundays and public/national holidays. Mall 'B' however, is allowed to open as it happens to house a hotel within the same complex. Mall 'A', if allowed to open, would be teaming with people, overwhelmingly locals, not their hotel guests on those days - as is Mall 'B' on such occasions. This is completely unfair and both should be allowed to open.

This is not a religious issue. The Roman Catholic faith may be predominant amongst Malta's believers, but there is no exclusivity, and to say that Malta is a Roman Catholic country is incorrect. Our neighbour Italy has a similar, if more diverse religious profile, and yet Good Friday there is not even a public holiday, it is just a normal day 'at the office'.

There is also no strength to the argument of 'give the poor workers a day off'. If the law were to be properly revised, then workers would have a legal right to be paid accordingly at an increased rate, as is the case in the UK for example. In my experience workers are generally very keen to work under such conditions, and such days would probably form part of their regular 40hr week anyway in the case of full-timers. Additional vacation leave given for working such days is also an option.

Getting back to Good Friday specifically, these days how many places of entertainment decide to keep their doors closed on this solemn day? Even nightclubs and restaurants - the latter now serving more and more steaks etc with every passing Good Friday, as opposed to the traditional vegetable and fish alternatives.

Time and time again, people take on a 'more catholic than the Pope' attitude to such matters, when in actual fact, nothing but sheer hypocrisy abounds.

Mr Paul Barrett

Apr 20th 2011, 19:04

Quote: In a statement, it said that if there is one day in the calendar which all Maltese agree should be kept holy and be maintained a special family day, it is certainly Good Friday. Unquote.

Only one day? I thought that there was a day towards the end of December as well - perhaps I am mistaken.

A. Borg

Apr 20th 2011, 18:38

Daqs kemm hawn hwienet tal-Confectionary li se jifthu nhar il-Gimgha,il-Lidl dejjaqhom lil tal-GRTU!

Charles Sammut

Apr 20th 2011, 18:26

Why does the word "cartel" spring to mind.

As long as employees are fairly paid and get their allocated free days, why should they be prevented from working and offering their service to the public?

Charlie Borg

Apr 20th 2011, 18:16

The GRTU should keep its mouth shut. Just because their Maltese members don't want to open on Good Friday does not mean that they have some God-given right to keep LIDL from opening.

I do not agree that LIDL or any other outlet should open.

That having been said, let us see whether LIDL will get any Maltese customers on Good Friday. Now THAT would be a real test, to see whether it is true that all the Maltese believe that Good Friday should be a day where all outlets would remain close.

In other words, GRTU should stop being hypocritical like the rest of the Maltese society.

anton cassar

Apr 20th 2011, 18:12

GRTU said " In a statement, it said that if there is one day in the calendar which all Maltese agree should be kept holy and be maintained a special family day, it is certainly Good Friday.

Could be but LIDL are not Maltese so they don`t need to abide by that agreement.

Mr Alexander Pace Gouder.

Apr 20th 2011, 18:01

Good Friday should be kept Holy as we stop to meditate on the Passion of Jesus Christ (OUR SAVOUR)I am not going to nameestablishmentsbut please give your staff this day off.FOR US MALTESE AND GOZITIANS this day is by tradition a holy day.SO LETS KEEP IT LIKE THIS. A HOLY BESSED HAPPY EASTER TO ALL.

Mr Malcolm Seychell

Apr 20th 2011, 17:54

x jonqos issa nwaqfu l airport ukoll halli ma jahdem hadd good friday. ara vera pajjiz redikolu sirna

R. Gauci

Apr 20th 2011, 17:48

Meta supermarket ewlieni, wahdu go Malta ddecieda li nkiss inkiss jiftah nhar Jum il-Helsien fejn kienet il-GRTU? Dik festa nazzjonali u din festa religjuza, mela vera sirna stat Taliban? Billi jiftah? L-aqwa li l-haddiema jkunu kkumpensati talli jahdmu f'festa u b'mod volontarju u min irid imur jixtri, mela dejjem nimponu?

Peter Carabott

Apr 20th 2011, 17:45

Naqbel perfettament li l-Gimgha l-Kbira hija gurnata fejn ma ghandu jiftah hadd ... imma xorta jifthu numru ta dawk li jsejhulhom confectioneries ... li fil-fatt nahseb l-inqas li jbieghu huma pasti!! Dawn issibilhom dak kollu li ssib go grocer zghir!