Union demands commerce closure on Sundays and holidays and closing until 22:00

The union will collect signatures for a citizens' legislative initiative to change the current law or create a new one, which establishes the closing of stores on Sundays and holidays and the reduction of working hours

CESP - Trade Union of Commerce, Offices and Services Workers of Portugal will advance, on Saturday, March 18, with a collection of signatures for the closure of trade on Sundays and holidays and the reduction of hours in the sector.

This is a "citizens' legislative initiative" whose collection of signatures will start on the day of the national demonstration of the CGTP, in Lisbon, on Saturday, unionist Márcia Barbosa told Lusa.

The goal, according to the unionist, is to "change the law or create a new law" that establishes the closing of stores on Sundays and holidays and the reduction of the period of operation of stores until 22:00 on other days.

"Workers who leave at midnight in shopping centers can't keep up with their children and, in many cases, at that hour they no longer have transportation to go home," said Márcia Barbosa, noting that Portugal "is the only country in Europe where this happens."

According to CESP, in the last 30 years, with successive legislative changes, the opening of commerce on Sundays and holidays was normalized, as well as the extension of opening hours until midnight, "benefiting only and solely the large commercial companies".

"Sunday and holiday rest periods are a historic achievement for commerce workers", the union stresses in a press release.

The citizens' legislative initiative to be promoted by CESP limits the working period from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm, Monday to Saturday, and the closing on Sundays and holidays.