The GRTU has said that they have written to Minister, Tonio Fenech and Parliamentary Secretary, Chris Said, to issue the necessary Legal Notice to give the opportunity to businesses to open on nest Saturday the1st of May.
They said that for most consumers a two day weekend with no shopping is too long. This creates particular problems to super-markets, mini markets and other retailers, that sell services, goods and other retail activities sought after by consumers, normally at the end of the week.
“As usual following requests by members, GRTU conducted a survey among retailers to establish whether retailers prefer to open or stay closed on Saturday May 1st 2010. The result of the survey conducted on April 22nd and 23rd shows that 71% prefer to open on Saturday May 1st 2010, while 29% prefer to stay shut.”
GRTU said that given that the preferred choice of the absolute majority is in favour, GRTU, as the national retailers representative advised Government to take the necessary legal measures to ensure that retail establishments in all districts are allowed to open on Saturday May1st 2010 if they so desire.
If Government agrees to this it will constitute an opportunity to business owners who choose to open but by no means will it mean that shop owners will be made to open against their will or that this will apply for any other public holidays, GRTU concluded.