Conor today voted against new Sunday trading laws sneaked in by the Government under the Enterprise Bill.
The new proposals will relax rules on Sunday trading and devolve new powers to authorities to take decisions on Sunday trading. The move may lead to retail workers having to work on Sundays instead of spending quality time with their families.
Retailers comprise 10% of employment in constituencies across the UK and an independent survey of over 10,000 retail staff found that 80% of staff in large stores are working Saturdays and 74% already work on Sundays.хЪ
Before the General Election, the Prime Minister promised not to relax Sunday trading laws arguing that the “current system provides a reasonable balance between those who wish to see more opportunity to shop in large stores, and those who wish to see further diversity.”
CommentingхЪConor said:
“I oppose longer opening hours for big stores on Sunday.хЪ I am convinced that shops are currently open long enough for people to do their shopping and that Sunday should remain a special day, different to any other.
“The Sunday Trading Act is a great British compromise, which gives everyone a little bit of what they want. Retailers can trade, customers can shop, staff can work; whilst Sunday remains a special day, different to other days, and shopworkers can spend some time with their family.
“It’s important that shopworkers are able to enjoy time with their families and the changes proposed by the Government threaten this and do not protect the rights of workers.
“Changing the Sunday trading laws would be detrimental to shopworkers and their families, as well as wider society, and that is why I am voting against the changes and backing the Keep Sunday Special campaign.”