Tuesday, Genève Commerces and NODE were jubilant. The two organizations announced “that Geneva businesses will finally be able to welcome the population during a special Sunday opening on Sunday, December 22!” A turnaround, since this opening was first accepted by the State, before being invalidated, at the beginning of December, by the Administrative Chamber of the Geneva Court of Justice.
Genève Commerces and NODE then filed an appeal with the Federal Court, requesting the suspensive effect of this ban. The judges of Mont-Repos agreed to grant it. According to the appellants, the High Court held that “retail businesses had a clear economic interest in remaining open on that day, having regard to the difficulties faced by this sector in the border cantons due to shopping tourism abroad”. Representatives of Geneva traders say they are delighted with “this long-awaited breath of fresh air to liven up the streets and encourage local purchasing”.
“This is excellent news for the local economy,” said State Councilor Delphine Bachmann, in charge of the Department of Economy and Employment. She also reminds that employees can choose to work or not and that the standard employment contract provides for the payment of a 100% salary increase for staff who will work on December 22.
