Going home to find nothing left in the pantry may soon become a thing of the past when laws regulating shop opening hours are revamped later this year.
Economy Minister Chris Cardona yesterday said the government was “strongly considering” extending opening hours till 10pm, as well as allowing shops to open on Sundays and public holidays.
Very often it’s not worth opening for business and paying the fee
Speaking during the presentation of a survey carried out by the Chamber of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises – GRTU, Dr Cardona said the law had created an unfair playing field.
“We have a situation where some businesses are operating on days in which others are not allowed to. This was brought to our attention before the election and is something we are committed to addressing,” he said. Retailers and traders are not allowed to operate on Sundays and public holidays without a State waiver. However, businesses forming part of a hotel or located within designated tourism zones are allowed to open for business as they please. This is having an adverse effect on the economy. We believe that business owners should be able to use their own discretion to decide when to operate,” he said, adding that some sectors, such as hairdressing, already did.
Dr Cardona said the reform had already been discussed internally and would now be opened for public consultation before a White Paper was drafted later this year.
Conducted across 500 businesses, the GRTU survey found that two thirds of entrepreneurs did not agree with the present restrictions.
More than half wanted to open on public holidays. Similarly, 54 per cent said they did not agree with restrictions on Sundays.
Of those who agreed with the legislation in place, more than two thirds said they did not want to continue paying a fee to open on special days.
Businesses outside tourist areas are charged a whopping €700 every time they open their doors on public holidays and Sundays. Dr Cardona said this too, might soon become a thing of the past.
“Very often it’s not worth opening for business and paying the fee. Some businesses don’t make enough in a single day to cover that cost,” he said.
GRTU vice president Marcel Mizzi said the findings provided a real picture of what business owners really wanted.
“It would be pointless for us to sit here and tell you what we think.
“We want to give you the opinions of the people on the ground. After all, they are the people that are being affected,” he said.