Many question the need for surveys and research on certain topics when, at the end of the day, there is little hope for change. Sunday shopping is one example. We have reached a stage where the government, the constituted bodies and church have taken a stand: "no" to Sunday shopping. On the other hand, very few people have spoken out to counter the arguments put forward by the authorities. While surveys are to a certain extent subjective, they also give a clear picture of what people really think. A survey carried out on Sunday shopping in the last week of June left some interesting results, results that we believe, will seriously counter any anti-shopping arguments.
Sunday shopping will not affect religious or family life
The survey, commissioned by Standard Publications, clearly indicates that the majority of those questioned are in favour of shops opening on Sunday with particular emphasis on which sources of shopping should be available.
Nearly 64 per cent said they are in favour of certain shops opening on Sunday. Those against Sunday shopping say that only a few are in favour, and these are mainly the establishment owners themselves, who are interested in recouping "their investment". Is 64 per cent representative of "the few establishment owners"? Not really. It is pertinent to point out that this survey was carried out among a representative sample of the Maltese population and not among the business community.
The results show that the majority of those in favour are young people, yet 52 per cent of those over 65 years of age, would also like to see certain outlets opening on Sunday. Around 59 per cent of those interviewed said that they would like supermarkets to open. However, people also want other services to open: over 95 per cent said that they felt pharmacies should open, followed by confectioneries (78.3 per cent) and stationers (73.7 per cent). Taking a different angle, the survey also studied the effect Sunday shopping will have on the individual's religious and family life. While a number of those interviewed agreed that shops opening on Sunday will affect their religious life, the percentage is not as high as opponents say it is. Only 17.6 per cent said that religious life would be affected. On the other hand, 24.7 per cent said that shops opening on Sunday will affect family life.
Thus the link between Sunday shopping, religion and family life is not as strong as previously thought to be. On the contrary, many believe Sunday shopping will get families together. It would certainly be unfair not to take the business community's stand on the matter into consideration. Of all the arguments put forward, two certainly merit attention.
The constituted bodies are preoccupied because they feel that if shops opened on Sunday, their members' livelihood will be negatively affected. They believe that both the employer, his business and the employees will suffer. We agree, in part. We disagree on one important aspect - how things should be done. On the one hand, those against have ruled out Sunday shopping completely. On the other, those in favour want every outlet under the sun to open. Both opinions would lead to a situation that is neither conducive to business nor one that safeguards local entrepreneurs' interests. Instead of saying "yea" or "nay", for once this country should try and say "let's try".
Yes, let us try, but any decision must reflect both the consumers' wishes and also the effect such a decision will have on the employer and employees. Employers will be faced with a number of problems. Opening on Sunday will mean that either they have to employ more staff or else use the existing staff on a roster basis, giving those who work on the Sunday, a day off during the week. We must stress that on no account should employees be made to suffer. Neither must they be given the excuse of more pay, without having a day off during the week.
That would be unacceptable. Neither must employees be exploited nor should they be forced to working on Sunday. Any employee must be given the option to do so, and any decision should be respected. Employees have a right to free time and a chance to spend some time with their families, just as employers have the right to do so as well.
Finding the right balance will not be easy. It is time to re-examine the whole issue in a fair and responsible manner. All the parties concerned should sit down and strive to find a solution - one that upholds the rights of the businessman and employees and one that reflects the consumers' needs.
