Shops in Slovakia will be forced to close after 12p.m. on New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, according to an amendment to the Labour Code approved by parliament on May 15.
"Many cases appear in which employees are forced to go to work on Easter Sunday, Christmas or New Year's Day, although our laws guarantee a paid holiday for them," stated the amendment’s sponsors: Marta Damborská (SNS), Ľudmila Mušková (ĽS-HZDS) and Ján Podmanický (Smer-SD).
The main reason for the proposal is to let families be together on holidays, they said.
"We have been contacted by mothers who are forced to stay at work even when their children and relatives are at home," said Mušková.
The amendment will come into force on the day it is signed. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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