Shopping days restricted
Traders welcome restrictions on Sunday and bank holiday openings
Small traders have this week welcomed a new regional law that will reduce the opening of establishments on Sundays and bank holidays
SMALL traders and local shops have welcomed the approval of new regional regulations restricting the opening of establishments on Sundays and bank holidays.
The law regulating Sundays and bank holidays on which shops and shopping centres in the Valencia region can open were dramatically changed by the regional government late last week.
The regional parliament backed an agreement signed by representatives of traders and consumers associations, trade unions and chambers of commerce.
This affects several articles of the regional commerce law and, according to regional councillor for sustainable economy and commerce Rafael Climent, will come into effect on February 25.
The agreement is a serious setback for shops and shopping centres in Finestrat, Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa and coastal districts of Dénia, Jávea, Moraira, Benitachell, Benissa, Calpe, Altea, Alfaz del Pi, Ben- dorm, La Cala Finestrat, Villajoyosa and Campello, among others, which have been allowed to open on all Sundays and bank holidays of the year because they were awarded the status of busy tourist zones (ZGAT).
Alicante and Valencia cities have a similar Sunday and bank holiday opening days schedule.
According to the agreement published in the regional Parliament’s official bulletin, shops and shopping centres in these areas will only be allowed to open on Sundays and bank holidays from June 15 to January 5, as well as during the Easter holidays and the Sunday after Easter Monday.
Shops and shopping centres in Elche, Guardamar del Segura, La Marina, Pilar de la Horadada, Pinar de Campoverde, Rojales, San Fulgencio, Santa Pola, Altea, Benidorm, Benissa, El Campello, Dénia, Gandía, Jávea, La Nucía, Oliva, Ondara, El Verger and Villajoyosa are allowed to open Sundays and bank holidays from June 15 to September 15 and the Sunday after Easter Monday.
The agreement also includes some general rules regarding opening hours and certain days when opening is banned.
Article 17 of the new law establishes that under no circumstance can they open on January 1, January 6 (Three Kings Day), May 1 (International Workers’ Day), October 9 (Valencia Region Day) and December 25 (or December 26 if it is declared a bank holiday that particular year).
However, shops and shopping centres will be allowed to open on the first Sunday of the January and July sales periods.
Sr Climent said the agreement represents the end of a 25year battle over the opening hours and days of shops and shopping centres.
He thanked the representatives for being able to reach an agreement, which ‘will be beneficial for the workers of shopping centres, who will be able to rest and be with their families during the first half of the year’.
AICO, the association of traders in Benidorm and surrounding towns, says its members are 'satisfied' with the new law, especially because of what it regards as 'unfair' competition allowed by the opening of establishments every Sunday in Finestrat's shopping boulevard and in Alfaz del Pi.
The association says this new law will benefit towns that continue to have flexible opening times, but are far more aware of the need for workers to be able to reconcile their employment with their family's needs.
It is unclear yet how the new law will hit workers who are hired only for the bank holidays and Sundays, but job losses are quite possible for employees of some large chain stores.
Benidorm traders complain about Finestrat shopping boulevard's 'openall-hours' policy