Sunday Opening: Employers Criticize Verdi's Success - Court overturns Sunday trading rules in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's tourist zones
A court has struck down Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's rules on Sunday trading in tourist areas. The Oberverwaltungsgericht (OVG) declared the regulation invalid on 12 March 2026, stating it violated protections for Sundays and public holidays. Employers have reacted with frustration, while unions welcome the decision as a win for workers' rights.
The ruling affects 84 municipalities where shops could open on Sundays between 15 March and 31 October, as well as 17 December to 8 January. These areas, covering 23% of the state's population, had operated under the same provisions as Schleswig-Holstein's Bäderregelung, which applies to 95 tourist-heavy towns. The Verdi trade union had challenged the law, arguing it undermined legal protections for rest days.
Employers now face uncertainty. Lars Schwarz, head of the Association of Employers' Federations (VUMV), called the decision 'real headwind' at a time when businesses already struggle. Many retailers in these areas depend on Sunday sales for most of their weekly income, with staff often willing to work for higher pay. Schwarz insists any Sunday work should be voluntary and negotiated, reflecting a shift toward employee-driven labour markets. The court's verdict may have wider consequences. Schleswig-Holstein must review its own rules by the end of 2028, though no other German states have yet announced similar changes. Schwarz expects appeals to delay major shifts this year but stresses the need for talks between the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Verdi, and employers to craft a new regulation.
The ruling leaves Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Sunday trading rules in limbo for now. Businesses must wait for further legal steps or a revised agreement before reopening on Sundays. Meanwhile, Schleswig-Holstein will reassess its own policies, with potential knock-on effects for tourist-dependent retailers across the region.
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