The Minister of Commerce, Employment and Energy, Alejandro Sáenz de San Pedro, described as a “historic agreement” the one concluded between the administration and representatives of employers’ associations and unions concerning the opening of shops on public holidays and Sundays in 2025.
In statements to the media, the minister stressed that he had reached a consensus with a “unanimous proposal” and congratulated the representatives “for their sensitivity to dialogue and the promotion of the commercial sector.”
Specifically, the approved opening schedule includes January 2, March 1, April 17, August 15, September 7, November 1, November 30, December 6, December 21 and December 28. Two of them, August 15 and September 7, are days that can be changed by municipal councils, which they must notify before November 15, 2024.
During the session of the Inter-Island Trade Commission, Jose Antonio CaldesDirector General of Companies, Self-Employed and Commerce, congratulated the representatives of the employers’ associations (Asodib, Afedeco, CBC, Ascome) and the trade unions (UGT, USO, CCOO, Anged, Pimeco, Pimeed, Pimef) for the ability to reach a consensus on the calendar of Sundays and public holidays in 2025 and encouraged continued progress in improving the competitiveness of the entire commercial sector of the Balearic Islands.
For his part, the representative of the National Association of Large Distribution Companies of the Balearic Islands (Anged), Toni Canalsexpressed his “total satisfaction for the benefit of trade and the consumer.”
Specifically, he stressed that the main objective is to promote commercial dynamics. “I want to emphasize the issue of food waste. We find ourselves with days that follow one another and for food it is a handicap because having two days of closure means that the fresh product is wasted, we have managed to prevent this from happening.
For her part, UGT representative Belén Córdoba acknowledged her agreement because the union “has worked a lot in this direction, I hope the same thing happens in the coming years.”
Córdoba said workers “will benefit from conciliation and a special bonus and will benefit” from the new agreed schedule.
