GERMANY: DEMONSTRATORS GATHER IN BONN TO PROTEST AGAINST GERMAN GOVERNMENT PLANS TO LIBERALISE COUNTRY'S SHOP OPENING HOURS

Record ID: 649333

  • Title: GERMANY: DEMONSTRATORS GATHER IN BONN TO PROTEST AGAINST GERMAN GOVERNMENT PLANS TO LIBERALISE COUNTRY'S SHOP OPENING HOURS
  • Date: 28th April 1996
  • Summary: BONN, GERMANY (APRIL 27-28, 1996) (RTV) APRIL 28, 1996 SLVS DEMONSTRATORS WALKING, CARRYING BANNER READING: ONLY VAMPIRES WORK AT NIGHT. (GERMAN) (2 SHOTS) 0.17 SLV PROTESTER CARRYING BANNER READING: REXRODT (GERMAN ECONOMICS MINISTER GUENTER REXRODT), DON'T BE SILLY, KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF SHOP HOURS. (GERMAN) 0.29 SV MASKED PROTESTER CARRYING BANNER READING: 18:30 - FROM AACHEN TO LEIPZIG (GERMAN) 0.36 SV PEOPLE CARRYING BANNER READING: DO YOU NEED MORE THAN 65 HOURS A WEEK TO SHOP? (GERMAN) 0.45 LV OF RALLY 1.03 LV BANNER READING: GOOD BYE TO FAMILY LIFE (GERMAN) 1.10 LV RALLY 1.16 SV PEOPLE APPLAUDING 1.22 SVS WOMAN WITH T-SHIRT READING: KEEP THE EXISTING SHOP HOURS.WE ARE DOING SOMETHING. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. (GERMAN) (2 SHOTS) 1.34 SV PROTESTERS SINGING 1.48 MCU MARGERET MOENIG-RAANE, LEADER OF THE RETAIL, BANKING AND INSURANCE (HBV) TRADE UNION SPEAKING ABOUT WHY MANY RETAILERS WOULD CLOSE SHOP (GERMAN) 2.09 APRIL 27 SVS/SLVS OF PEOPLE SHOPPING IN BONN (3 SHOTS) 2.32 CU OF SHOPS CLOSING 2.37 SV MAN SHOPPING 2.43 MCU SHOPPER KLAUS ROETGEN SAYING: LONGER SHOP HOURS WOULD HELP. TO BUY BIG THINGS LIKE FURNITURE ONE NEEDS THE ENTIRE FAMILY (GERMAN) 2.55 LAS SHOP BEING CLEANED AND DOORS CLOSED 3.00 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 13th May 1996 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BONN, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA5CCLZAY7OIM2AKZN0V7K1XUGI
  • Story Text: INTRO: Around 50,000 demonstrators gathered in Bonn to protest against German government plans to liberalise the country's shop opening hours.

    ------------------------------------------------------------------- Demonstrators gathered in Bonn on Sunday (April 28) to protest against German government plans to liberalise the country's shop opening hours, currently among the most restrictive in Europe.

    Most of the demonstrators were members of retail-sector trade unions who say they will have to work longer hours if the rules are relaxed.

    The protesters, with banners saying "Hands off shop hours" and "Leave shop hours alone", held a rally by the side of the river Rhine on the opposite bank from the German parliament.

    German laws, partly dating back to the last century, stipulate that shops must close all day Sundays, at 6.30 p.m. on most weekdays and at 2 p.m. on Saturdays, except on the first Saturday of the month when they may stay open to 6 p.m.

    The government's plan would allow shops to open until 8 p.m. on weekdays and until 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

    Economics Minister Guenter Rexrodt's plans to relax those rules were introduced into parliament last week and members of Chancellor Helmut Kohl's coalition say they should become law by the end of the year.

    A report from the Munich-based Ifo Institute last year said new hours could unleash an additional 20 billion marks (13 billion US dollars) in annual spending for stores and create about 50,000 new jobs.
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