Illustrative stock photo (source: SME)
Beside the current three-and-a-half days on which stores are closed, on March 15 the government approved twelve more in an amendment to the Labour Code due to enter into force as of May Day if also passed in parliament.
Right now, three full free days are free from work for retail staff – Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Easter Sunday; plus Christmas Eve as of noon, the TASR newswire wrote.
The new list, drawn up by a group of MPs from the governing coalition, also includes Epiphany (January 6), Good Friday, Easter Monday until 2 p.m., May Day (May 1), Victory over Fascism Day (May 8), the Feast of St.s Cyril and Methodius (July 5), Slovak National Uprising/SNP Day (August 29), Constitution Day (September 1), the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows (September 15), All Saints Day (November 1), the Day of the Fight for Freedom and Democracy (November 17) and Boxing Day (December 26).
A debate is still expected in parliament on Easter Monday, with those submitting the legislation contending that that the sales ban could be extended to cover the entire day. Such a move is also being promoted by the Trade Union Confederation (KOZ). The argument is, according to the Sme daily, that shop assistants and shop employees also want to have holidays off and spend time with their families.
The amendment, now in the second reading in parliament, has been proposed by a group of coalition MPs, Sme wrote.
