The Malta Chamber of Small and Medium Enterprises (GRTU) is asking the government to compensate shops and businesses that had to close down on Saturday because they were within 50 metres of a polling station.
"The first thing that we did was ask the Electoral Commission to reconsider the definition of the 50 metre periphery, which is interpreted to apply to the boundary of the whole polling station - and not just the entrance. So in Birkirkara alone it affected 24 shops. Unfortunately, this request could not be accommodated," GRTU director general Vince Farrugia said.
"I am not convinced that the legal notice is relevant any more. There is no reason why the security aspects could not be accommodated without closing down businesses."
The GRTU is currently collating data about the businesses affected. Although not all districts had shops within the exclusion zone, many schools are sited near shopping zones. There are numerous outlets near Qormi's three schools and San Ġwann alone had 12, Mr Farrugia said.
The data collected so far, which is substantiated by receipts, shows that the impact of the enforced closure can be considerable. One wines and spirits merchant lost profits of €140, a stationery reported lost sales of €600 and a pharmacy reported a reduction in profits of €650.
"And you have to imagine how much more passing trade they would have picked up, given the constant stream of people going past, which cannot be quantified," Mr Farrugia said.
"Another aspect is that consumers were also affected. The pharmacy in Attard had to remain closed, forcing people to seek their medicines elsewhere."
The GRTU has presented a protest in court and should the government not reach an agreement with the businesses, it intends to take legal action.
The legal notice enforced the closure of outlets but for many of the businesses that closed down all day on Monday or in the afternoon on Tuesday, the closure was voluntary.
"Many businesses told us that their employees wanted to be able to go out and celebrate. Others said that their employees were wary of getting caught up in traffic and carcades," he said.
"The overall impact depends on the outlet. In some sectors, like shoe and clothes shops, it is a case of postponed purchases, rather than lost ones, although outlets selling the last of their winter stock have suddenly found that it is spring! With larger purchases, such as those related to doing up a house or planning a wedding, little will have changed.
"Overall, there is no doubt that things slow down during the electoral campaign but to a lesser extent than in the past. This could be because more of the campaign is being followed on television and the district events are less scattered. Having said that, there is a notable decline in business everywhere on the Monday after a mass meeting. They seem to drain everyone's energy!
"We estimate that a third of the population still follows the campaign closely and that is a significant number. But it is declining with each election."
Of course, not all businesses suffered. Restaurants, bars and coffee shops that stayed open did a roaring trade.
"I suppose those who won bets on the outcome had a lot of money to spend on celebrations!" he joked.
"The first thing that we did was ask the Electoral Commission to reconsider the definition of the 50 metre periphery, which is interpreted to apply to the boundary of the whole polling station - and not just the entrance. So in Birkirkara alone it affected 24 shops. Unfortunately, this request could not be accommodated," GRTU director general Vince Farrugia said.
"I am not convinced that the legal notice is relevant any more. There is no reason why the security aspects could not be accommodated without closing down businesses."
The GRTU is currently collating data about the businesses affected. Although not all districts had shops within the exclusion zone, many schools are sited near shopping zones. There are numerous outlets near Qormi's three schools and San Ġwann alone had 12, Mr Farrugia said.
The data collected so far, which is substantiated by receipts, shows that the impact of the enforced closure can be considerable. One wines and spirits merchant lost profits of €140, a stationery reported lost sales of €600 and a pharmacy reported a reduction in profits of €650.
"And you have to imagine how much more passing trade they would have picked up, given the constant stream of people going past, which cannot be quantified," Mr Farrugia said.
"Another aspect is that consumers were also affected. The pharmacy in Attard had to remain closed, forcing people to seek their medicines elsewhere."
The GRTU has presented a protest in court and should the government not reach an agreement with the businesses, it intends to take legal action.
The legal notice enforced the closure of outlets but for many of the businesses that closed down all day on Monday or in the afternoon on Tuesday, the closure was voluntary.
"Many businesses told us that their employees wanted to be able to go out and celebrate. Others said that their employees were wary of getting caught up in traffic and carcades," he said.
"The overall impact depends on the outlet. In some sectors, like shoe and clothes shops, it is a case of postponed purchases, rather than lost ones, although outlets selling the last of their winter stock have suddenly found that it is spring! With larger purchases, such as those related to doing up a house or planning a wedding, little will have changed.
"Overall, there is no doubt that things slow down during the electoral campaign but to a lesser extent than in the past. This could be because more of the campaign is being followed on television and the district events are less scattered. Having said that, there is a notable decline in business everywhere on the Monday after a mass meeting. They seem to drain everyone's energy!
"We estimate that a third of the population still follows the campaign closely and that is a significant number. But it is declining with each election."
Of course, not all businesses suffered. Restaurants, bars and coffee shops that stayed open did a roaring trade.
"I suppose those who won bets on the outcome had a lot of money to spend on celebrations!" he joked.