Opposing views on proposal to review shop opening hours

“The Government should not interfere in such an issue and shop owners have to ultimately decide their opening hours,” the Consumers’ Association says.

10 November 2013, 12:00am
by Jerome Caruana Cilia

1 min read

A week after the 2014 Budget was presented in parliament, one of the main controversies was the proposal to publish a White Paper on the revision of shop opening hours.

A spokesperson for the General Retailers and Traders Union (GRTU) said "the union has been working hard with the shop owners for several years so as to reach a satisfactory agreement among all the stakeholders. At the moment, the GRTU members have opposing views on extending shop-opening hours. The trends in this sector change continuously and the GRTU will always be in close contact with its members so as to ensure the best policies for its members."

Benny Borg Bonello, on behalf of the Consumers' Association said "when the government issues the White Paper, we will know what's at stake. Presently, the government has all the options available."

"The government should not interfere in such an issue and the shop owners have to ultimately decide the opening hours," Borg Bonello said.

A self-employed who spoke with MaltaToday said "any legislation ought to protect the small enterprises and the self-employed."

The Consumers' Association was set up on 3rd April 1982. It is the only consumers' association on the Island and is recognised under the Consumers' Affairs Act of 1994.

Read the full report in today's edition of Illum

More from Jerome Caruana Cilia

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Typically Maltese! We are Europeans only in name (perhaps hoodwinked by Xmun, back then, with promises of another Messiah, this time bearing moneyed manna. What a letdown!) Again, we are Catholics only in name (or for the festivities, and annual beerfest conducted with great enthusiasm in every Maltese village. What a touristic, anti catholic event!) Again still, some, especially certain PN heavily leaning b(l)oggers are in it for pure personal gain; but more especially to pacify their internal, vividly green, vicious, antisocial (purely aristocratic, mind!) streak. Born with it I suppose; will die with it!

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It's a shame that in Malta in 2013, we still have shops who close in the early afternoon, and that no supermarkets are open during the night. Are we European or not? The GRTU should not only protect it's members, but has to find a balance with the consumers too! After all, many people have long working hours, and if they'll have an opportunity to make shopping during the night would be ideal for them. Even on public holidays, or religious feasts, I think that most shops should open, and not keep the same mentality of 40 years ago.