News

Large supermarkets (2,000 square meters +) are now allowed to open on Sunday between 6 am and midnight, like any other day of the week. Until now, opening hours on Sunday were 8am-1pm. Reactions are lukewarm. (Ref. 100589)



Opening. The Council of Portuguese Ministers decided to terminate the exception for opening hours of large supermarkets (200m2). The establishments concerned may open from 6am to midnight, like the other days of the week. A total of 180 large supermarkets are affected, and 77 of these are food markets. In its decree-law, the government chose a decentralized management of the issue, putting town councils in charge of allowing it or not, and of the time frames. Thus, the towns will be able to act “in accordance with safety, the protection of citizens’ quality of life or the defense of some professional activities,” the text reads. So far, the law allowed 2,500 medium and large supermarkets to open every day of the week, and only from 8am to 1pm for large supermarkets.



Employers are surprised. This decree-law caught the Confederation of Portuguese Trade and Services (CCP), about to open talks with the social partners on working time, by surprise. In a press release, it deplored the “government’s lack of transparency on such a delicate topic.” Traditional trade is going to be affected again and unemployment should rise up. For its part, the Portuguese association of retail companies (APED) welcomed this decision which will help created 5,000 jobs. Big chains rejoiced with this decision.



Unions are shocked. The union of trade and service workers is protesting against the government’s accomplished fact. The UGT (General Workers’ Union, close to the socialist party in power) is totally opposed to this decision which will further deregulate labor. The federation expressed concerns as to the argument that jobs will be created in the sector.



Decentralized management. The decree-law recently passed states that towns will be in charge of authorizing supermarkets to open on Sundays and holidays and defining opening hours.  Far from getting unanimous approval as well, since the impact zones of the supermarkets don’t match a town council’s administrative coverage. Some towns are afraid of unfair competition.



Schedule. The ANMP, the national towns’ association, will give an opinion on Tuesday, July 27^th. The CCP will meet with the social partners at a permanent social dialog committee on Wednesday, July 28^th.

Planet Labor, July 26, 2010, No. 100589 – www.planetlabor.com