How European Weekend Laws Will Leave Us Out of Business.
August 08, 2013
My children are growing like crazy. So while on family holiday in the US, we went on a much needed shopping spree. T-shirts, jeans, shoes,… The lot. And suddenly it struck me: none of my kids were wearing any clothes that were bought in Belgium, where we live.
Now why is that? Are we spoiling them? Are we looking for exclusive brands? Are we desperately trying to be hip and trendy citizens of the world? Nah, it’s purely for practical reasons. You see, I can only go shopping in my spare time: after business hours or on a Sunday. But in Belgium labor laws force most retailers to close their shop in the evening and on Sundays. Hence, no shopping allowed.
It’s the same for many other European countries. France, Germany and Austria also apply strict trading laws in the name of protecting the work-life balance for shop employees and the mere survival of small shops unable to work those shifts, reports Reuters. I can relate to that, but I also think it is weighing heavily against our shops’ competitiveness. Competition is often just across the border and always open for business. Not to mention online shopping.
In Belgium, entrepreneurship is in decline. We’re starting-up new ventures less than ever. And with every new month, we’re also breaking year on year bankruptcy records. I’ve always seen it as my duty to support fellow entrepreneurs, everywhere and in my own country in particular. I’ve spent countless hours on promoting and fostering entrepreneurship. But there’s only as much as a law abiding citizen can do.
It is time we challenge the status quo. A number of recession-hit European countries got the message and have recently softened their stance. Italy set a new course last year and Greece this month. They are giving retailers room to breathe, trying to better balance fostering growth and having a healthy and happy society.
Who’s next? Today we may be out of touch, but tomorrow we’ll definitely be out of business.
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