BONN, Oct. 26 -- Germans might be able to shop until 8pm and buy fresh bread on Sunday next year if Parliament approves an outline agreement between the Bonn coalition partners. By law, all German shops must shut at 6.30pm, except on Thursday, at 2pm three Saturdays a month and are barred from opening at all on Sunday.
Resistance from the shopworkers union, most major stores and church- backed concerns to preserve the current merchant hours has blocked the liberalization of shop hours. However, consumer and women's groups argue that the rigid law dating back more than 40 years does not take into account social changes and the problems posed for the increasing number of women who work full time. Economics minister Guenter Rexrodt, whose economically liberal Free Democrats strongly back the change, said the new law could take effect as early as the middle of next year. Accoring to Rexrodt, more longer shopping hours should mean a revitalization of major city centers, more advantages for smaller, family-run shops and an increase in the number of part-time jobs.