Business Secretary, Sajid Javid, has announced that new powers to devolve Sunday trading laws to local authorities will be brought forward in the Enterprise Bill. This will allow councils to “zone” any relaxation of current trading hours’ restrictions to allow large stores (a floor area exceeding 280 square metres) to open longer. The measures also include greater freedoms for shop workers to “opt-out” of working Sundays if they choose to. Shop workers will now be able to give 1 month’s notice that they no longer want to work Sundays, down from the previous 3 months, and will have a new right to opt-out of working additional hours. The Government will also strengthen the duty on employers to notify employees of their rights about working on Sundays.

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