Germany reforms Sunday shop hours, trade groups call for full openings

The coalition government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has presented a 34‑point reform package that, from 1 January 2027, will allow bakeries, pâtisseries and public libraries to work longer on Sundays and public holidays. The current law limits bakery work on Sundays to three hours; the proposal would raise the limit to up to eight hours for production, while retail sales hours remain subject to each state’s shop‑closing regulations.

Trade associations – the German Retail Federation (HDE) led by Stefan Genth, the Berlin‑Brandenburg association headed by Nils Busch‑Petersen, and the Saxony association under René Glaser – argue that the ban on Sunday openings should be removed entirely. Genth said, “Einkaufen ist auch Freizeiterlebnis, daher setzen wir uns für Sonntagsöffnungen im Einzelhandel ein, um Innenstädte attraktiv und lebendig zu halten.”

The Bundestag’s Economic Committee, chaired by Christian von Stetten (CDU), and FDP chairman Wolfgang Kubicki also support a generous extension of Sunday hours, warning that “closed stores hurt dying city centres.”

Unions (Verdi), the church and social organisations caution that Sundays are constitutionally protected as rest days and stress the need for fair wages and reliable work schedules. Implementation will vary by state; for example, Bavaria continues to limit bakery sales to three hours.

The reform aims to boost competition with online retailers and revive city centre activity, but the final impact will depend on how individual Länder adjust their shop‑closing laws.