HUNGARY: The no-work Sunday cost more than 2,000 jobs so far | Progresiv
Hungary’s no-work Sunday law cost more than 2,000 people their jobs in commerce by the end of April 2015, reported blokkk.com, citing Central Statistical Office (KSH) data. Additionally, the number of overtime hours rose to five-year highs. 
Employment in Hungary’s commercial sector dropped in April, the first full month when the no-work Sunday affected every weekend. KSH data clearly show that the number of employees decreased after the first "clean" month, February, blokkk.com reported. Additionally, the number of full-time employees also fell in April by more than 500 compared to February. (In March, the stats office recorded a decline only among part-time employees.)
In retail and wholesale commerce, the number of employees dropped by 2,200 in April compared to February. The Sunday shopping ban eradicated 2,400 jobs in retail trade only. This does not mean that there are no vacancies in certain stores but even if they hired people, they let go even more. Contrary to some opinions, it is not just the two main hypermarket chains that need to be monitored here, but the other stores too.
The portal also noted that the large chains decided to close later on weekdays than before, to offset the impact of no-work Sunday, which has also mitigated layoffs. (Note, however, that the new legislation that came into effect on 15 March also restricted opening hours to between 6 A.M. and 10 P.M., putting an end to stores, such as Tesco, that were open 24-7.)
Statistical data by the KSH cover businesses with more than four employees. The story thus cannot be complete for if a really small store (with one to four employees) ceased to be open after 10 P.M. after mid-March and laid off one of its employees because of that, it is still not included in the official stats. Many small stores were obviously forced to do so because if they wanted to remain open on Sunday the only way to do it was if the owner or his/her family member stood behind the counter. (www.portfolio.hu)
