In statements at the Assembly of the Republic, PCP deputy Alfredo Maia emphasized that the aim of the proposed law is to ensure the preservation of the “fundamental right” of workers to rest and spend time with their families.
“We frequently visit and contact workers, particularly in shopping centers, who often tell us: ‘I haven’t seen my child for a week’ or ‘I haven’t seen my husband awake for a week,’ because many of these workers work in shifts, sometimes at night,” he said.
To address this situation, the PCP proposes the closure of general commerce, “particularly in shopping centers,” on Sundays and holidays, and on weekdays, a closing time of 10:00 p.m.
The deputy noted that certain services are excluded from this measure, such as restaurants, pharmacies, theaters, or cinemas.
The law project foresees that retail establishments located at gas stations, bus, train, airline, or maritime stations may remain open 24 hours, seven days a week.
Restaurants, cafes, breweries, snack bars, or self-service establishments can remain open until 2:00 a.m. every day, as well as convenience stores, while “night entertainment venues,” such as nightclubs, must close by 4:00 a.m.
The party also considers that there should be a differentiation of hours depending on “specific conditions,” such as traditional, cultural festivals, or beach areas, allowing them to “respond to specific local characteristics and constraints.”
Regarding the opening hours of commerce, the PCP believes this decision should be made by municipalities, except for units subject to licensing authorization provided by the Regional Coordination and Development Committees (CCDR), after consulting unions, business associations, and consumers.
When asked if he is concerned that these closures could impact workers’ salaries, Alfredo Maia said that the issue of salaries “is not resolved by so-called compensations for working on Sundays.”
“It is resolved, indeed, by increasing the salaries of these workers. It’s important to highlight that a good portion, if not the majority, of workers in this sector are earning minimum wage or close to it,” he stressed.
This PCP bill was announced on the eve of the Assembly of the Republic debating, this Thursday, a citizen-initiated bill that precisely calls for the closure of commerce on Sundays and holidays and the reduction of operating hours until 10:00 p.m.
