Foreigners who move to Germany or visit the country are often surprised to find they can't stock up on groceries or spend the afternoon browsing stores on a Sunday.
That's because most retail outlets are required to stay closed under Germany's strict Sunday trading laws. There are only a few exceptions such as for shops at major train stations and airports.
Whether those rules should be relaxed has been the subject of heated debate across German society for years. Now the issue is back in the spotlight after the government agreed to extend Sunday opening hours for some businesses and public libraries.
Under a coalition policy paper published last week, longer Sunday opening hours for "bakeries, patisseries and libraries" are due to come into force on January 1st, 2027.
The draft document from the Labour Ministry states that bakeries and similar establishments will be allowed to stay open for up to eight hours on Sundays, while libraries could be open for up to six hours.
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Calls grow for more Sunday openings
Retail industry groups have been arguing for years that Germany's Sunday trading rules, which date back to the early 1900s, are outdated, with some calling for all restrictions on Sunday shopping to be scrapped.
The debate gathered fresh momentum this week after the Bundestag's Economic Affairs Committee backed a significant easing of the ban on Sunday trading.
"The Bundestag decides on Sunday working hours and the federal states on Sunday opening hours. In both cases, I am in favour of a generous extension of the existing regulations," committee chairman Christian von Stetten, of the centre-right CDU, told Bild newspaper.
FDP chairman Wolfgang Kubicki also called for a relaxation of the rules.
"There is an urgent need for genuine flexibility," he said. "Those who want to force shops to remain closed should not complain about dying town centres."
Tourism bosses said that giving brick and mortar stores more flexibility would encourage visitors while boosting local businesses.
"Whether holidaymakers choose Germany also depends on attractive shops and special offers," said Christoph Ploß, the government’s tourism coordinator, adding that the current regulations date back to a time "when there was no online retail".
"More flexible opening hours would enable German retailers to keep up with the competition from online retailers, who are always available," added Ploß. He said that it would "give German town centres a boost".
Day of 'social cohesion'
However, trade unions and other social organisations oppose the move.
Michaela Engelmeier, chairwoman of the Social Association of Germany, warned against watering down Sunday trading rules.
"Sunday is protected by the constitution and is far more than just an economic factor – it is an indispensable day for rest, family and social cohesion," she told Funke Media Group newspapers.
Engelmeier said Sunday working was only needed "where it serves the public interest", such as in the healthcare sector or for the police and transport services.
"In other sectors, however, it must remain the exception," she said.
Silke Zimmer, a member of trade union Verdi’s Federal Executive Board, took a similar view.
"Sunday is the only day off that employees can reliably plan for," she said.
The Protestant Church has also warned against expanding Sunday shop opening hours.
"A free Sunday is valuable for our society as a whole – regardless of whether a person believes in God or not," a spokesperson for the Protestant Church told the Rheinische Post.
"We need one day a week when as many people as possible have the day off at the same time."
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