Going out for some thrilling shopping spree
In a recent court decision, Sunday shopping has been prohibited during Advent weekends in Germany, a move that has sparked controversy among retail leaders. The ruling, based on the argument that Sunday shopping does not aid infection control or disperse customer crowds, has been welcomed by union members as a positive day for retail employees' health and well-being.
Silke Zimmer, a union member, emphasized the importance of retail employees being able to spend Advent Sundays with their families for their overall health. She views the ruling as a good day for employees in retail, who are worried about getting infected during the pre-Christmas period.
However, not all retail leaders are in agreement. Michael Radau, president of the NRW Retail Association, expressed disappointment and shock at the court's decision. He believes that the additional Sunday shopping would have protected employees by dispersing customer crowds, allowing anxious customers who rely on weekend shopping to avoid high visitor numbers on Advent Saturdays.
Radau also criticized the court for potentially not recognizing the seriousness of the situation, as entire city centers are at risk of collapsing due to the lack of Sunday shopping. He called for legislative action on all levels to secure the topic of occasional Sunday shopping in retail legally.
Gabi Schmidt, NRW regional leader for Ver.di, supports the court's decision, citing the need to protect the population due to high infection numbers. She argues that Sunday shopping increases visitor numbers on weekends and does not contribute to population protection, as distance rules cannot be maintained in overcrowded city centers.
The Shopping Ban is in effect on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Advent, preventing Sunday shopping during this crucial shopping period. This includes St. Nicholas Day shopping associated with the Oberkassel Christmas market. Birgit Neisser, chairwoman of the Oberkassel Advertising Association, views the ruling as bad news, as it means the Sunday shopping requested by left-bank retailers on St. Nicholas Day will not take place.
Ver.di, the union, successfully sued against multiple planned Sunday openings at the same court in recent months. They advocate for spreading Christmas shopping across the six working days to minimize infection risk. The state government is expected to accept that the current rule for Sunday shopping applies during pandemic times.
This court decision comes as no surprise, as German courts have historically supported laws that restrict Sunday and holiday retail opening hours to protect workers' health and social life, including during Advent weekends. However, for authoritative and current details, checking major German news outlets or official court publications would be necessary.
- Michael Radau, the president of the NRW Retail Association, believes that the additional Sunday shopping during Advent weekends could have protected retail employees by dispersing customer crowds and allowing anxious customers to avoid high visitor numbers on Saturdays.
- The ruling by the court to prohibit Sunday shopping during Advent weekends has been welcomed by union members, such as Silke Zimmer, as a good day for employees in retail, as it allows them to spend time with their families without worrying about getting infected during the pre-Christmas period.
- Gabi Schmidt, NRW regional leader for Ver.di, supports the court's decision, arguing that Sunday shopping increases visitor numbers on weekends and does not contribute to population protection in overcrowded city centers.
- Radau also calls for legislative action on all levels to secure the topic of occasional Sunday shopping in retail legally, as he thinks that the court may not have recognized the seriousness of the situation, with entire city centers being at risk of collapsing due to the lack of Sunday shopping.
- The Shopping Ban, which includes St. Nicholas Day shopping, has been placed on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Advent weekends, making it difficult for left-bank retailers to carry out the Sunday shopping that has been requested during this crucial shopping period.
