Stefan Genth, managing director of the German Retail Federation (HDE), told Bild newspaper that shopping is a leisure experience. He said the federation advocates for Sunday openings to keep city centers attractive. Nils Busch-Petersen, managing director of the Berlin-Brandenburg retail association, added that Sunday should be left to the discretion of retailers and customers. Anyone selling a shirt on a Sunday currently faces criminal charges – a rule that is outdated in the age of online shopping, he said.
According to a coalition policy paper published on Thursday, longer Sunday opening hours for bakeries, pastry shops, and libraries are to take effect on January 1, 2027. A draft from the Federal Ministry of Labor proposes up to eight hours for bakeries and up to six hours for libraries.
According to an analysis, German retailers lose 2.5 billion euros in sales annually to Chinese online retailers. Some 40,000 jobs are said to have been lost as a result.
Source: www.zdfheute.de
