Shops may open for business this Saturday, Freedom Day and almost every other public holiday this year and next year, without needing to pay a fee, the GRTU and the government said this afternoon. 

The GRTU said the government had upheld its request to allow shops to open without needing to pay the special licence of €700. 

The government has accepted a request to leave it up to shop owners to decide whether or not to open on April 8 (Easter), May 1 (Labour Day), June 7, June 29 (Mnarja), September 8 (Victory Day) and September 21 (Independence Day). The exceptions are Good Friday and Sta Marija, but shops may opt to open on Christmas and New Year's Day.

Shops may also open on public holidays next year. 

The government said opening times for the Christmas period - between November 1 and January 7 remained unchanged and businesses may open Mondays to Sundays from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m.The public holidays during this period are December 8, December 13, Christmas Day and New Year's Day, during which establishments may open between 4 a.m. and 10 p.m., without exception, the government said. 

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