Federal MPs Vote: Retailers Banned from Working on Sundays and Holidays

(Patria) - Federal MPs tonight adopted the Bill on Internal Trade, which, among other things, regulates the issue of non-working Sundays. The ball is now in the court of the federal delegates.

This is a completely new legal text regulating the field of trade, which is harmonized with numerous EU acts, writes Faktor.ba.

Among other things, it regulates the conditions and manner of conducting trade and trade services, as well as forms of trade, and the method of forming and displaying prices.

The law defines the prohibition of working in shops and markets on Sundays, meaning that florists, bakeries, souvenir shops, and shops of traditional and old crafts are allowed to work on Sundays and holidays.

It is also stated that the prohibition of working on Sundays does not apply to retail outlets located within or forming an integral part of railway and bus stations, airports, hospitals, hotels, cultural and religious facilities, museums and nature parks, cemeteries, and specialized shops related to sales at cemeteries.

The law further regulates the procedures and obligations of traders, and more comprehensively regulates issues of importance to consumers (granting discounts, sales at reduced prices).

It also introduces modern nomenclature and classification of forms and methods of trade, as well as new institutes (special market institutions, etc.), with the aim of developing market competition and equality of traders.

Furthermore, it regulates trade records, trade and market monitoring, consumer protection, then the prohibition of trade restrictions and temporary measures for trade restrictions, as well as working hours in the trade sector.