The Initiative of Slovak Retailers (ISKM) stated on Tuesday that working in shops on Sundays should be made voluntary for employees. ISKM was speaking in response to the initiatives of some MPs to introduce a permanent ban on retail sales on Sundays. Shops have been closed on Sundays during the present coronavirus outbreak, with the authorities labelling Sunday as a 'sanitary day'. ISKM claims that the two-month coronavirus lockdown has caused significant losses to retailers, and that they should be allowed to "discuss" Sunday work with their employees. They have made the further claim that closing shops on Sundays would result in the loss of 40,000 jobs. ISKM spokesman Daniel Krakovský stated that retail job applicants should be allowed to say freely at interviews whether they want to work on Sundays or not, and that their potential employers should be obliged to respect their attitude.
Other trade associations have mixed views on the issue. While the Slovak Trade Association (ZO) is in favour of permanent Sunday closures, the members of the Slovak Modern Business Alliance (SAMO) are divided on this question, with some in favour and some not. Slovakia's Institute of Economic and Social Studies (INESS) has argued against keeping shops closed on Sundays, claiming it will harm the country's economy and that some employees count on the higher Sunday wages. Economy Minister Richard Sulík (SaS) is also against Sunday closures.
A recent survey by the 2muse agency, however, has revealed that as many as 99 percent of employees in the retail sector are happy with the current coronavirus arrangement on Sundays, with 88 percent saying they would prefer to see shops remain closed on Sunday after the outbreak is over.
A recent study based on Eurostat data has estimated that 31 per cent of Slovak employees work at least occasionally on Sundays, the vast majority of these outside the retail sector.
