Sunday Trading Ban in Holiday Resorts Challenged in Court - German court to decide fate of Sunday shopping in tourist zones
A court battle over Sunday shopping rules in northern Germany is set to unfold this week. The Verdi union has challenged regulations in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, with a hearing scheduled for Thursday in Greifswald. The outcome could also impact similar rules in Schleswig-Holstein, where Sunday openings have been allowed in tourist areas since 2013.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania introduced its Sunday shopping rules last year, mirroring those in Schleswig-Holstein. Both states permit shops in designated tourist zones to open from March 15 to October 31, as well as during the Christmas and New Year period. The current regulations in Schleswig-Holstein will remain in place until at least December 13, 2028.
Verdi has long opposed these exceptions, arguing that they erode protections for workers on Sundays. The union claims that allowing shops to open on three-quarters of all Sundays each year in multiple locations threatens the principle of a day of rest. While Verdi initially tolerated Schleswig-Holstein's rules as a trial, it has warned that any extension depends on the Greifswald court's decision. The case centres on whether Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's regulations—modelled on Schleswig-Holstein's—violate labour protections. No official data exists on how the rules have affected local economies or tourism in either state. However, retailers in the northeast pushed for the change to match opportunities available in neighbouring Schleswig-Holstein.
The court's ruling will determine whether Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Sunday shopping rules can stand. If Verdi succeeds, Schleswig-Holstein's long-standing regulations could also face renewed scrutiny. The decision may force both states to reconsider how they balance retail flexibility with worker protections on Sundays.
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