# Austrian retail opening hours deregulation debate > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/austrian-retail-opening-hours-deregulation-debate > Updated: 2026-10-23T11:30:55.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2. Rewe Austria has initiated a push to extend weekly retail opening hours from 72 to 78 hours, citing restrictive current regulations for brands such as Billa, Penny, and Adeg. A primary focus of this demand is the expansion of unmanned, automated convenience stores. Following a Constitutional Court ruling that applied the 72-hour limit to these automated containers, Rewe paused its ‘Billa-Box’ expansion. However, company surveys suggest significant public support for allowing unmanned markets to operate on Sundays, public holidays, and after 8:00 PM. The proposal has sparked a political debate involving various parties and stakeholders. The NEOS party has suggested legislative models to expand hours for digital smart stores and owner-operated shops to aid rural food accessibility, while Economy Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer has expressed support for exempting employee-free businesses from current regulations. Opposition remains, with the SPÖ rejecting any expansion of hours for staffed locations, arguing that such moves would contradict the government program and lead to widespread Sunday openings. Labor unions have also voiced concerns regarding the impact on workers. Meanwhile, industry perspectives are divided; while some operators report high demand for food on Sundays, other retailers argue that Sunday openings may simply redistribute existing sales rather than generating new revenue. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-23: Austria debates expansion of retail opening hours Austrian politicians and retailers are debating the expansion of shop opening hours, focusing on unmanned digital supply boxes and weekday extensions, while the SPÖ opposes staffed Sunday openings. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/austria-debates-expansion-of-retail-opening-hours ### 2026-10-18: Rewe Austria seeks to extend retail opening hours to 78 per week Rewe Austria is calling for an increase in weekly retail opening hours from 72 to 78, specifically pushing for expanded access to unmanned, automated convenience stores. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rewe-sterreich-seeks-extension-of-retail-opening-hours --- Cite as: Austrian retail opening hours deregulation debate. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/austrian-retail-opening-hours-deregulation-debate