GRTU says shops don't want restrictions on opening hours

Six in every ten GRTU members surveyed by the organisation have claimed they do not agree that shop opening hours should be restricted.

An extensive survey conducted by the GRTU shows that 62% of the 500 shop owners interviewed disagree with restrictions on opening hours, claiming amongst others that today's consumers need to be able to shop at different times of the day. 

The GRTU carried out this consultation exercise after the government announced plans to amend the law regulating opening hours restrictions. 

Economy and investment minister Chris Cardona described the survey's outcome as "a positive surprise" since instead of resisting amendments in law, shop owners are on the same side of the government. 

"We felt the need to discuss possible amendments to the law since it currently distinguishes between types of business, and in some cases this raised possible discrimination on certain businesses. Furthermore the law left no discretion to the shop owners. The government believes that the owners know what is the best for them and their business and as much as possible, we should leave them to decide within the parameters," Cardona said. 

However, he added that no one believed that it should be free-for-all but the legal framework needed to be more flexible according to today's needs. 

The 27% who answered in favour of restrictions claimed that many businesses are family-run and do not have the resources to open all hours, leading to unfair competition. They also remarked that turnover will not increase and expenses will simply increase for the shop owner. 

Asked whether opening on Sundays should be restricted, the No vote persisted even though it decreased from 62% to 52%. 

Respondents claimed that during the weekend, customers are more relaxed and likely to make a purchase and thus, opening on Sundays will likely improve business.

Meanwhile, 36% of those who wanted that opening on Sundays should be restricted believed that the end of the week should be left for the family, that everyone needs a day off and that opening on Sundays is not profitable.

The majority (54%) also believed there should be no restrictions on whether shops decided to open or not on public holidays. Those who were in favour of opening on public holidays underlined that since their customers tended to work long hours they would welcome the opportunity to shop on their off days. 

The reasons given by those who disagreed (36%) included religious reasons and that employees should have their break.