Malta Chamber opposes shops opening on public holidays

The Malta Chamber of Commerce has come out against of a concession suggested by the Chamber of SMEs GRTU, for shop owners to open on the feast of St. Paul's Shipwreck on 10 February.

"Neither is it in favour of shops opening during public holidays and Sundays," the Chamber said, reiterating a stand it took in April last year when another call was made for shops to open on May 1st.

"The Malta Chamber's stand is derived from the fact that opening on Sundays and public holidays will increase costs for shop owners and operators but the long-term effect on turnover is bound to be negligible.

"The position is therefore being taken in the interest of the shop-owners community - most of whom are SMEs and microenterprises - and their employees. As far as the Malta Chamber is concerned, public holidays and national feasts are a day of rest for both employers and their employees and this should be respected," the Chamber said.

Shops planning to open during this Friday's public holiday will have to pay a €700 fee for the concession.

"In spite of last year's commitment, the government has failed to decide in time to liberate February 10, an important shopping day in view of Valentine's Day," the GRTU said.

Shops which are exempted from paying the €700 fee demanded by law, risk incurring the charge if they chose to open on Friday.

The GRTU has consistently lobbied for shops to be allowed to trade on several public holidays, insisting shop owners "who in their vast majority are owners and managers and family businesses" should be free to decide for themselves whether or not to open on public holidays.