The proposal by the German Trade Association (HDE) to open shops on Sundays as well has met with resistance from the Verdi union.
"Politicians are well advised if they adhere to the ban on Sunday work in retail and uphold the intention of the constitutional protection of the free Sunday," said Stefanie Benefitberger, who heads the trade department at the union, told Reuters on Friday.
"Together with our church alliance partners in the federal alliance for the free Sunday we will defend ourselves with all means against this general attack by the HDE."
FDP open to HDE push
The trade association had proposed in the FAZ that the shops should be open on Sundays at least until the end of the year. "That would be a clear signal to the people that the city centers are open again and that the shops are there for everyone again," HDE Managing Director Stefan Genth justified the move. “It also gives retailers the chance to make up at least a little of the sales lost during the lockdown.” There should also be more reliable rules for legally secure occasional Sunday opening.
At the FDP, the lobby association has found open ears. "In the Corona crisis, the Germans saved a record amount of seven trillion euros," said Vice-President of the Bundestag parliamentary group Michael Theurer. “The best economic stimulus program for retail is attractive offers - and this includes the possibility of being able to open on Sundays - that bring private consumption back to the city centers.” While online retailing is booming on Sundays, the city centers are empty. The general sales ban for the retail trade on Sundays should therefore be relaxed in accordance with the constitutional requirements and legal certainty should be ensured. "
Verdi sees the HDE offensive as a "general attack on the commercial workers, their families, but also on the Basic Law," as Benefitberger said. The trade association thinks too short-sightedly when it hopes to liven up the city centers and shops with shopping Sundays. "Because only because it is open longer, people cannot spend more money," said Benefitberger. "Sunday sales only move sales from working days to Sunday."
In many other areas of the economy, Sunday opening is completely natural, argues the trade association. "In restaurants and pubs, it's part of everyday life that the doors are wide open on Sundays," said Genth. The same applies to theaters, cinemas or museums, as well as to the assembly lines of many factories. "Only in retail everything has to be tight as a rule on Sundays," said Genth. “That is no longer in keeping with the times.” Nowadays, shopping is no longer just a supply, but strolling and shopping are also a leisure event.