German federal government plans longer Sunday opening hours for bakeries and confectioneries

Specifically, it is to be permitted to deploy employees on Sundays and public holidays for up to three hours for the delivery and distribution of baked goods. The regulation aims to ensure the population's supply of fresh baked goods while at the same time giving businesses more flexibility.

Supporters: More flexibility for retail and town centres

The retail association welcomes the initiative. Its chief executive Genth told the Bild-Zeitung newspaper: "Einkaufen sei auch ein Freizeiterlebnis." The association advocates Sunday openings, "auch um Innenstädte attraktiv und lebendig zu halten". Busch-Petersen, managing director of the Berlin-Brandenburg regional association of the retail association, is also calling for more far-reaching relaxations. It is "im Online-Zeitalter von vorgestern, dass sich strafbar mache, wer in Deutschland sonntags ein Hemd verkaufe".

Among the bakery craft sector, however, the draft meets with clear criticism. Roland Ermer, president of the Central Association of the German Bakery Craft, takes particular issue with one requirement of the draft: "Zudem wird verlangt, dass nur Backwaren hergestellt werden dürfen, die am gleichen Tag verkauft werden. Dies ignoriert, dass insbesondere die Herstellung von Sauerteigbroten einen mehrtägigen Prozess voraussetzt."

Criticism from the bakery craft: sourdough and reality

The association criticises that the planned special rules do not match operational reality. According to the association's portrayal, bakeries have been under pressure for some time: high energy and raw material prices, increased personnel costs and competition from bakery shops and petrol stations are taking their toll on the traditional craft. Branches of large chains with café areas can already make use of more flexible Sunday rules via the restaurant law.

The Verdi trade union also firmly rejects the extension of Sunday work to up to eight hours and warns of health consequences for employees. Sunday rest is an important component of occupational health and safety and must not be carelessly watered down.

Verdi warns of erosion of Sunday rest

However, the practical implementation is in any case decided by the Shop Closing Act. This has been a matter for the federal states since 2006 – the federal states thus have their own scope for shaping how long shops may actually open on Sundays. The planned amendment to the Working Time Act, on the other hand, primarily concerns the question of how long employees may be deployed on Sundays and public holidays.

Libraries: Sunday opening as an additional building block

A further component of the project: public libraries are to receive a six-hour permission for Sunday and public holiday work in the future. This is intended to enable them to open regularly on Sundays and thereby reach new target groups.