Win For Community On Shop Trading Hours
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Business - Retail Press Release11th September 2009, 11:00pm - Views: 1087
46;s announcement to protect family and community time on our most significant public holidays" said SDA NSW Branch Secretary Gerard Dwyer. "It's a package of amendments that balances work, family time and community interests." "The amendments to the Shop Trading Act introduced today by the NSW Government restores some certainty for the industry and for families so that they now know they can celebrate significant public holidays together" Mr Dwyer said. "Today’s amendments clarify that Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and before 1pm on ANZAC Day are times when shops should be closed and families and communities can come together to celebrate, contemplate or commemorate important days for the Australian community. These modest changes are about restoring balance between family time and commercial interests. 4½ days is a mere 1% of the retail trading year." "The changes announced mean that there will be a presumption against general shops getting an exemption to trade on these days. A more rigorous test for exemptions will require applicants to substantiate any claims as to why they should be allowed to open on these culturally significant days." "Whilst small business will continue to be able to trade 365 days a year if they so wish, they cannot be compelled to trade by shopping centres because of the proposed changes to the Retail Leases Act. Again, this is a proper balance of competing interests. We all have families – employees and employers alike – and we should be spending these special days with our families and communities" said Mr Dwyer. "Families should be able to celebrate Christmas and Boxing Day this year as they have traditionally done with shops remaining closed. People can also look forward to celebrating Easter in 2010 together. Importantly too, the community can properly commemorate ANZAC Day in future with the respect it deserves." "Over half a million retail workers, their families and the community look forward to the NSW Parliament passing these fair and balanced amendments to the Shop Trading Act and the Retail Leases Act" said Mr Dwyer. For any further comment please contact: Mr Gerard Dwyer Branch Secretary – Treasurer Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association, NSW Branch Level 3 8 Quay Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Phone: (02) 9281 7022 Fax: (02) 9281 7050 Mobile: 0411 730 851 |
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