The GRTU said this afternoon that shop owners' hopes of being able to open on February 10 (The feast of St Paul's Shipwreck) have been 'destroyed by bureaucracy'.

"Following last year's controversy on the opening of shops on public holidays that fall close to special occasions which are deemed to be very important shopping days, where the GRTU strongly advocated for the outlets to be given the opportunity to open without the legal obligation to pay €700 euros per shop, there seemed to be an agreed commitment by Government that during 2012 the issue would have been managed over a whole year basis," the GRTU said.

The GRTU said it had therefore presented its request, which is viewed as a simple formality as bureaucrats also have access to calendars.It had been informed, however,  that in spite of last year's commitment, the government had still  failed to decided in time to allow shops to open on February 10.

It said this was an important shopping day in view of Valentines Day.

"The GRTU therefore regretfully informs all shops who had planned to open on 10th February that they may have to incur the extra charge if they are not already exempt as Government has refused GRTU's request on behalf of all retailers who wished to open."