The GRTU said this afternoon that it has taken action to ensure that the legal notice defining shopping hours is precisely worded to ensure that no permits are issued for retailing on Good Fridays.

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.

"The GRTU action is not aimed at any one particular establishment but simply to clarify that this is the one special day out of all 365," the GRTU said.

It added that it was satisfied that the government had replied positively to GRTU’s request to issue a legal notice to clarify the issue.

The GRTU did not give details in its statement, but, when contacted, director-general Vince Farrugia said that several members had complained about plans by Lidl to open on Good Friday.

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