Retail in Austria will open again on Monday. It is now clear at what times Christmas shopping can take place.
In view of the reopening of the entire trade on December 7th, the federal trade division in the Austrian Chamber of Commerce and the GPA union agreed to adjust the opening times in the run-up to Christmas. Accordingly, the shops can be open on December 8th from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., on the two Saturdays before Christmas, December 12 and 19, the opening time can be extended to 7 p.m.
The regulation for December 8th was made as a supplement to the existing collective agreement. A corresponding ordinance from the Ministry of Labor is required for the Saturday opening. For employees, the additional hours after 6 p.m. are compensated with a surcharge of 100 percent.
“This agreement is a sensible compromise that takes into account the interests of companies, employees and consumers. An extension of the opening times on the traditionally busiest shopping days makes perfect sense in terms of unbundling the flow of customers,” said the chairman of the federal retail division WKÖ, Rainer Trefelik.
“For us, the securing of the surcharges, the voluntary nature of December 8th and the uniqueness of the regulation were a reason to agree to the package. An equalization of customer flows on these days is also in the interests of the employees and they still have the option to go before the curfew To be at home at 8 p.m., “adds Martin Müllauer, chairman of the trade sector in the GPA union.
