Sachina

Last week I was told by an Hungarian friend that from March 15th all shops and supermarkets such as Tesco, Aldi etc will be closed all day on Sundays. Has anyone else heard about this?

FenTiger

Hi,
Have just asked a hungarian friend living in Malyi about this. Yes, it's happening from March 15th.

fidobsa

Yes, some people are predicting that the foreign companies like Tesco might pull out of Hungary but their customers will still need to buy stuff so they will most likely just change their shopping habits rather than their store loyalty.

llareggub

Yup, been the talk for quite a while on FB expat fora... But given the fact that I live in a sleepy village and don't own a car it will not be having any impact on my life.

mawood47

Yes correct if you use this web site it will keep in touch with most things in Hungary so www. xpatloop. com it gives a vast amount of information, Baumax sadly as just a bought stop trading. Tesco to close non profit stores 13 approx. 8th district B/Pest guards in place for Tesco Home delivery's, so that's that digger47

Rural Hungary

Yes, Mr RH said all the neighbours have been talking about it and it's to do with Sunday being a day of rest and spending time with the family.

As Fib says, talk of Tesco and the like pulling out but it won't happen as people will just stock up on a Saturday.

FenTiger

They have something similar on Germany and Austria. I think it's a great idea. Mind you it could mean the supermarkets will be jam packed on Saturdays.

TerryandBrigi

That should be ok then........if you want jam !!!

Rural Hungary

I thought the same, Nagykanizsa Tesco is busy enough on a Saturday!

Shotgun

FenTiger,

<< I think it's a great idea.>>

May I ask why?

duztee

I am not in the slightest bit politically minded, and Sunday closing will not affect me in the least.

But from conversations with Hungarians I gather that their present leader is a very religious man, which may be colouring his view of Sunday trading.

Since Hungary is now part of the EU I presume they are covered by the Working time Directive, which limits working hours.
It therefore under mines the government claim that it wants people to have more time at home.
and secondly if my local Tesco is anything to go by, Sunday staff seem comprise mostly of young teenagers working part time, so making a little extra income, and giving them a good excuse NOT to be at home with the family all day!

I would add that from my experience with Hungarian builders etc they invariable work as long as necessary irrespective of any EU regulations.

Rural Hungary

Ditto on the politics Duztee and as well as mentioning the Sabbath as a day of rest, one of my Hungarian friends commented that they fear it's the first step on a slippery slope.

Personally, I think there are enough students, people without families, non religious individuals who would be willing to work on Sundays but unfortunately, as far as I am aware, Hungarians had no say in the decision.

John Gilbert

I am told there are 4 Sundays per year when the large shops can open!

One was last Sunday, the weekend before the Easter holiday.

It's all very 1950's

Sachina

Both Auchan and Penny Market were open last Sunday, but Spar and the Co-op were closed. I'm not sure about Lidl, Aldi or Tesco. When I went to Auchan last Tuesday I asked one of the assistants if having being open last Sunday meant that the government had changed their mind, to be told "No, With certain exceptions, Mr Fidez says we still have to close on Sunday"!

llareggub

Or even early 1990's Sunday trading wasn't fully permitted in England and Wales until 1994 and many places in Europe still have restrictions on Sunday opening hours. Germany does not seemed to have suffered economically from historically some of the most stringent Sunday trading laws in the EU.

It personally does not bother me and find the argument has little to do with consumer choice, workers rights or religion but rather about big business pushing the notion that we must be able to purchase stuff 24 hours a day 7 days a week from them, placing further pressures on small independent retailers!