High streets and city centres to benefit from Sunday trading devolution

High streets and city centres are set to benefit from government plans to devolve Sunday trading laws, Business Secretary Sajid Javid announced on 2 February 2016.Government Opportunities

New powers to devolve Sunday trading laws to local authorities will allow councils to “zone” any relaxation so they will be able to prioritise high streets and city centres. This will mean councils can help drive footfall to struggling high streets by allowing them to open longer.

This is part of a package of measures on Sunday trading that will be brought forward in the Enterprise Bill.

The measures also include greater freedoms for shop workers in England, Scotland and Wales to “opt-out” of working Sundays if they choose to, for example because they object on religious grounds or for family reasons.

Shop workers will now be able to give just 1 month’s notice to large shops that they no longer want to work Sundays, down from the previous 3 months, and will have a new right to opt-out of working additional hours. The government will also strengthen the duty on employers to notify employees of their rights about working on Sundays.

Business Secretary Sajid Javid said:

“We are a one nation government and we want to see the benefits of economic growth being felt in every corner of the country.

“These new powers are about giving local areas the choice to extend Sunday trading hours to meet the needs of their local businesses and communities. It is local people who will make the decision.

“Extending Sunday trading hours has the potential to help businesses and high streets across the UK better compete as our shopping habits change. The rights of shop workers are key to making these changes work in everyone’s interests. We are protecting those who do not wish to work Sundays, and those who do not want to work more than their normal Sunday working hours.”

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