Opposing views on proposal to review shop opening hours

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