The Chamber of Employees (CSL) has strongly rejected Labour Minister Georges Mischo's proposal to expand Sunday working hours, arguing that the reform would weaken collective agreements and disadvantage employees.

In its official opinion released on Monday, the CSL criticised the plan to increase the maximum number of Sunday working hours from four to eight. The organisation warned this change would undermine existing collective agreements, which currently allow employees to negotiate better conditions for Sunday work.

If the reform is implemented, companies would only be required to meet the legal minimum, effectively limiting employees' bargaining power.
 
The CSL also expressed concerns about the negative impact on employees' private lives and warned that the reform could create a competitive disadvantage for small businesses compared to large retail chains.

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Furthermore, the CSL suspects the reform is merely the first step towards a broader liberalisation of working hours, as proposed by the CSV-DP government. The organisation criticised the government for moving forward without consulting employee representatives and highlighted that many workers in the retail sector are among the most economically vulnerable.

Minister Mischo defended the proposed changes, stating that greater flexibility in Sunday work hours would help adapt employment models to evolving business and employee needs.