Grekodom reports:
Economy Minister, Dimitris Papadimitriou, signed the new law that allows the voluntary operation of shops on Sundays.
The new law 4427/2017 allows for retail stores in central Athens, Thessaloniki, and tourist areas to be open on Sundays for six months of the year during tourist season. The opening of retail stores on Sundays is a prerequisite of Greece's bailout program.
The Federation of Private Sector Employees has called a 24-hour strike to protest the decision while the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) said it will appeal it to the Council of State.
The ministerial decision determines, in great detail, specific areas where the shops can open on Sundays.
(Score: 3, Funny) by krishnoid on Wednesday July 26 2017, @12:24AM (4 children)
The strike is scheduled to start Saturday night at midnight, and ... hmm, wait a sec.
(Score: 2) by driverless on Wednesday July 26 2017, @12:31AM (3 children)
Although people make fun of Greece over this, it's no better in many other European countries. Planning to fly into Germany, Austria, France, or some other countries on the weekend? Remember to bring your own food, because nothing will be open.
In some cities you do get larger stores that stay open till 5pm Saturday, and I mean literally 5pm, at 16:50 they start shooing customers out of the shop so they can lock up at 17:00:00 on the dot, but they're few and far between, and on Sunday you're hosed. I always throw some food bricks into my suitcase so I'll be able to have something to eat when I arrive, and if I need toothpaste or soap or something that I've forgotten it has to wait till Monday morning.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 26 2017, @12:36AM (2 children)
Try to get any shopping done in Norway.. :-)
Shops closed when you quit the job and only Saturday to do it on otherwise. No rest from Friday work there..
(Score: 2) by driverless on Wednesday July 26 2017, @12:49AM
Ah, yeah, I did Vienna -> Oslo on a weekend, from one nothing-open-zone to the next. Luckily I still had the food bricks... "One Square Meal", like an MRE but with less variety and flavour.
"If a crow wants to fly down the Oslofjorden, he must carry his provisions with him" - Filip Sheridanssen.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 26 2017, @10:14PM
It's similar in some parts of Texas I've been, the only thing open after 5 are some of the drive thru liquor stores, not even the gas station open.