Yesterday, the Minister of Labor, Yiannis Panayiotou, reiterated the Government's position against any changes to store working hours. He also emphasized that allowing stores to operate on Sundays has contributed to reducing unemployment.

During a discussion in the Parliamentary Labor Committee, Minister Panayiotou stated, "I will repeat the Government's position on this matter, which has been publicly expressed." He explained that the current commercial environment, shaped over the past decade, resulted from specific socio-economic conditions. "In the early years of the previous decade, we faced high unemployment and recession, necessitating decisions to stimulate the market, create better developmental prospects, and generate job opportunities," he noted, highlighting the current need for more workforce in the market.

After mentioning the positive impact of extending store hours, Mr. Panayiotou reiterated, "The commercial environment that has been in place for a decade should not be altered," adding that "this established environment will continue to operate as it is."

Addressing concerns about employees' rights, the Minister stressed that inspections conducted by the Labor Inspection Department found minimal violations of legislation concerning employees' rights. He assured that the current legislation adequately protects these rights.

On the matter of working hours and employees' rights concerning Sunday and holiday work, the Deputy Director of the Department of Labor Relations, Antis Apostolou, clarified the legal provisions.

According to Mr. Apostolou, the legislation stipulates a 38-hour workweek with 8 hours per day, and an employee can work up to 2 hours of overtime daily. For any overtime beyond two hours on weekdays, employees are compensated at a rate of 1.5 times their normal pay.

Regarding Sundays, he added, in general stores open seven days a week, employees are entitled to every other Sunday off for 24 hours. If required to work on these days, they receive double pay for each hour worked.

For weekly offs, he continued, there are three categories of stores. In stores operating five days a week (closed on weekends), employees are entitled to one morning or afternoon off. In stores with a six-day week (closed on Sundays), employees get a 24-hour off plus three free mornings or two free afternoons. For stores operating all week, employees are entitled to two 24-hour offs and one morning or afternoon off. If an employee is called to work on their off day, they receive double pay for each hour worked.