Despite difficult conditions, the Trade Association CLC are happy with this year's winter sales results, said Claude Bizjak, their assistant director, in an interview on RTL.
He acknowledged that some sectors were more affected by the crisis than others, citing the textile sector as an example. With people working from home and most social events cancelled, customers have little incentive to refresh their wardrobe.
Sunday openings are usually quite a driver for sales, but this had not created a major dent this year, said Claude Bizjak. All the same, longer opening hours would have spread out the crowds and allowed for better respect of social distancing, he repeated.
Another aspect of Sunday trading the CLC is concerned with are working hours. The Labour Inspectorate ITM has noticed recently that some businesses do not seem to respect the 4 hour working limit set for Sundays, and announced stricter controls.
According to Claude Bizjak, the law is unclear on the matter, offering some exemptions, but not always specifying how these are requested or authorised. The CLC is also in negotiations with unions to find a solution.
