The STUC today urged MSPs to support the Christmas Day and New
Year’s Day Trading (Scotland) Bill and back proposals to close large
stores on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
The Bill, which would apply to large stores in excess of 3,000 square feet, will be debated in Parliament today.
Grahame Smith, general secretary, STUC, urged MSPs to lend their
support to the Bill, in order to prevent workers feeling pressured to
work during the holiday period. He said: “Retail is one of the largest
sectors of the Scottish workforce with over 250,000 people employed. A
significant proportion of these staff and their families would be
adversely affected by pressure to work during the holiday period.
“If New Year’s Day and Christmas Day were to develop into normal
trading days in Scotland, subsequently more people will have to work –
including cleaners, security staff, police, health workers, and public
transport workers where there will be pressure for a full service.
“I believe this is an important piece of legislation designed to
ensure a sensible balance between spending time at work, during an
already busy period, and spending time with family at a special time of
year. I urge MSPs to lend support to the Bill today”.
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