Croatia wants to cancel Sunday’s retail opening

It only opens 16 Sundays a year.

Zagreb. In Croatia, shops will be closed on Sundays and public holidays in the future. The Croatian government introduced a new trade law to parliament on Thursday that places restrictions on the opening hours of shops. Most shops in the tourist country, but also in the Catholic country, are allowed to open 16 Sundays a year.

The new regulation, which has yet to be approved by Parliament, is due to take effect on July 1. Croatian media reported that merchants will be free to choose the 16 Sundays they can work on. Shops located inside train stations, bus stations, airports, seaports, marinas, ships, gas stations, campgrounds, hospitals, hotels and cultural institutions are exempt from the ban on opening on Sundays. Exceptions also apply to family markets and farms. Tobacco sellers will be allowed to open on Sundays and public holidays between 7am and 1pm.

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic sees a good balance in the 16 working days law. “I think this will contribute to more rights for workers and a better family life,” he was quoted as saying by the media.

(APA)