Discussions on retail shutdowns in Bavaria see progress.

Proposed legislation - Discussions on retail shutdowns in Bavaria see progress.

In the ongoing dispute over a new retail closing law in Bavaria, progress is being made. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs has drafted a proposal, announced CSU fraction leader Klaus Holetschek on Wednesday. The main idea is to maintain the current regulations. Regarding the possibility of small supermarkets without employees being able to open on Sundays, he envisions a possible compromise that would allow for a few hours of Sunday availability, Holetschek shared with the German Press Agency. Previously, the "Augsburger Allgemeine" had reported about this. According to the report, there will be a meeting with interested parties in June.

The only one of the 16 federal states without a retail closing law is Bavaria. In this Free State, the outdated federal law from 1956 is currently in effect. This law is stricter than most state laws and only permits evening closing times up to 8:00 p.m. Holetschek reaffirmed that these closing times should remain in the future. The ban on Sunday shopping should also be retained in essence, he added. Across the board, retailers are not requesting a significant expansion.

Holetschek emphasized the importance of allowing municipalities some flexibility and ensuring that the modified law does not become too bureaucratic. In his view, the list of tourist and pilgrimage sites - which already allows for extended trading hours - also needs to be reviewed. Approximately 500 locations are currently on this list.

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1. Klaus Holetschek, the CSU fraction leader in Munich, supports maintaining the current regulations in the draft law concerning retail shutdowns in Bavaria.
2. The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in Bavaria has proposed a new retail closing law, which includes the possibility of small supermarkets opening a few hours on Sundays.
3. The absence of a retail closing law in Bavaria has been a topic of discussion, with the outdated federal law from 1956 currently in effect.
4. Holetschek emphasized the need for municipalities to have flexibility and for the modified law not to become overly bureaucratic in relation to the Draft law.
5. Theban on Sunday shopping should be preserved in essence, according to Holetschek, who also mentioned the need to review the list of tourist and pilgrimage sites that already allows for extended trading hours.
6. The German Press Agency reported about a forthcoming meeting with interested parties to discuss the Draft law on retail closing times in June, as proposed by the CSU and Klaus Holetschek.

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