The scene 10 years ago, when police were sent to close down shops within the Bay Street complex, as operators defied the outdated Sunday trading law, was one of the most embarrassing in local business history.
The GRTU, and in particular director general Vince Farrugia, had come up with several arguments why shops should remain shut for business on Sundays – from giving workers a break, to keeping the Sabbath a family day.
Thankfully, the authorities and businesses had decided to move with the times and came to a consensus on the matter, with the Trading Licences Act making it possible for establishments to obtain a special licence to open on Sundays and public holidays.
It was therefore a bolt out of the blue when last Wednesday the GRTU proudly declared it had taken action to ensure the legal notice defining shopping hours had been reworded to guarantee that no retail permits are issued for Good Fridays, in reaction to Lidl Supermarket’s plans to open for business.
It was even more astounding to see the hastiness with which the government acceded to the GRTU’s request. Unfortunately, it was not the first time the government reacted with unusual alacrity to the business chamber’s sometimes outrageous demands (who can forget the decision to ban the Doulos charity ship from selling books in 2003 on grounds that it did not have a trading licence).
Justifying the Lidl decision, the GRTU said it had surveyed a “wide cross section of retailers” to gauge their opinions, and that nearly all retailers and customers believe Good Friday should remain “a special one”.
While it would be interesting to verify the GRTU’s findings, it is not within Mr Farrugia’s remit to decide which days should be kept holy or “special”. This is especially so since the same GRTU conveniently does not object to any business restrictions whatsoever during the other major Christian holiday period – Christmas – when, of course, business is brisk.
The GRTU’s objections are even more ludicrous considering that just three years ago it wanted shops to open on Good Friday because of the general elections. Yet again, how convenient!
There is nothing wrong with setting terms and conditions for businesses to operate on public holidays and Sundays. In a free market, and especially when workers are prepared to make some extra cash, it should be the norm.
It was, after all, a GRTU publication which pointed out last October that the law still discriminates between businesses because some shops can trade on any day because they happen to be located in tourist areas, while others are only allowed to trade because they sell a particular range of products. This was especially evident last Friday when several establishments were open for trade – some legally, others probably not, and a good number evidently capitalising from a grey area.
In a modern society, flexibility is the solution and not the imposition of draconian laws which create more lacunas.
The government has to analyse the interests of consumers and the economy before anything else. Why should tourists find streets of closed shops, unless they’re in so-called tourist areas? And why should Maltese consumers be discriminated against?
What is obvious is that the GRTU should stop using morality and religion to justify its occasional outlandish causes.