The New Trade Act

The new Trade Act came into effect on July 1, 2023. 

The Trade Act regulates the conditions for conducting trade activities, working hours in the trade sector, measures to prevent unfair trading, as supervision and administrative measures. 

The most significant changes relate to the new rules regarding working hours in the trade sector, as outlined by BD Group experts below.

Ban on Sunday work

The trader determines the working hours of retail establishments according to the new act. They can extend up to 90 hours weekly, from Monday to Saturday, which the trader can schedule independently. 

Additionally, the trader can designate 16 Sundays per year as working days. In addition to the 90 hours per week, the trader can allocate an additional 15 hours, which can be scheduled from Monday to Sunday, making 105 working hours per week from Monday to Friday.

This year, traders will distribute the 16 working Sundays over six months until the end of the year. They must spread the 16 working Sundays throughout the year in subsequent years.

Exceptions

The mentioned restrictions do not apply to retail establishments located within or forming part of the following:

• Railway and bus stations, airports, ports open to public traffic, ports for inland navigation of ships, aircraft, and ferries for the transport of persons and vehicles
• Gas stations
• Hospitals
• Hotels, spaces of cultural and religious institutions, museums, visitor centres, interpretation centres, marinas, campsites, family farms
• Designated protected natural areas by specific regulations

Furthermore, the rules do not apply to:

• The purchase of primary agricultural products.
• The sale of own agricultural products at stalls and stands in retail markets.
• The sale of own agricultural products at stalls and stands in wholesale markets.
• Occasional sales at fairs and public events.
• Sales through vending machines.
• Distance selling.