Calls are growing in Germany to lift the country's Sunday store closure rules, which have been in place for more than 100 years. Proponents argue the outdated restrictions must be revised to boost domestic consumption and strengthen tourism competitiveness.
According to German media reports on the 8th, Christoph Ploß, the federal government's tourism coordinator and a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), stressed in an interview with Funke Media Group that attractive stores and shopping environments play a part in tourists choosing Germany as a travel destination. He said that only by making business hours more flexible can brick-and-mortar retailers avoid losing out in competition with online operators.
The pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP) also lent its support. FDP leader Wolfgang Kubicki said securing flexibility is urgent, pointedly remarking that those who force stores to close should not then complain about stagnant city centers. His argument is that easing operating restrictions is necessary to revive domestic demand.
Germany's basis for banning Sunday trading lies in its constitution. The German Basic Law designates Sundays and state-recognized public holidays as days of rest from work and spiritual elevation, protecting them by law. This provision was carried over directly from the religious clauses of the Weimar Constitution enacted in 1919. However, restaurants and stores located inside train stations and airports may operate on Sundays under federal and state law.
What ignited the debate was an economic stimulus package unveiled by the federal government. Under a proposed amendment to the Working Hours Act included in the so-called reform package, bakeries will be allowed to open for up to eight hours on Sundays and public libraries for up to six hours starting in January next year.
In response, merchant groups including the German Retail Federation (HDE) have demanded that operating restrictions be lifted not only for bakeries but for other sectors as well, arguing that shopping is a legitimate form of leisure.
Opposition remains fierce. Religious groups and labor organizations maintain that Sunday rest is a system that protects workers and consumers. The Catholic Workers' Movement (KAB), a labor organization, argued in a statement that shopping-free Sundays are a breather not only for workers and consumers but also for the environment and the climate. It emphasized that this time is not a relic of the past but was established for rest and spiritual recovery.
