On June 1, 2017, a new amendment to the Labor Code will come into force. The amendment will extend the range of public holidays and non-working days on which it is not allowed to order, or agree with, employees to perform work related to the retail sale of goods.

In general, on the specified days, only those retail stores will be allowed to be open which do not require staff for their operations, such as stores in which goods are sold by their owners who themselves are not in an employment relationship.

At the present time, the ban applies only to the following public holidays: January 1, Easter Sunday, December 24 from 12pm, and December 25. Once the amendment comes into effect, the ban will also apply to the following days: January 6, Good Friday, Easter Monday, May 1, May 8, July 5, August 29, September 1, September 15, November 1, November 17, and December 26.

The ban does not apply to retail sales at service stations with fuels and lubricants; retail sales and dispensing of medicines at pharmacies; retail sales at airports, ports, other public transport facilities, and hospitals; sales of transport tickets; sales of souvenirs; and sales of flowers on May 8 and September 1; sales of flowers and grave decorations on November 1.

Moreover, the ban does not apply to the provision of services, for example, at cinemas, restaurants, cafés, dry cleaners, etc.