DON’T MISS
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Expat Info
Swiss news & articles
Switzerland moves to allow more shops to open on Sundays
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

Switzerland moves to allow more shops to open on Sundays

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:



Related Stories

Switzerland debates expanding Sonntagsverkauf to nearly a quarter of all SundaysSwitzerland debates expanding Sonntagsverkauf to nearly a quarter of all Sundays
Swiss firms shouldn't be required to pay a liveable wage, says employer group headSwiss firms shouldn't be required to pay a liveable wage, says employer group head
Swiss welfare association calls for higher social spending as inflation bitesSwiss welfare association calls for higher social spending as inflation bites
Switzerland moves to give workers the right to be unavailableSwitzerland moves to give workers the right to be unavailable
Switzerland to host the first major summit on US-China trade warSwitzerland to host the first major summit on US-China trade war
Did Trump's call with the Swiss president convince him to pause tariffs? Did Trump's call with the Swiss president convince him to pause tariffs?
Working in Switzerland: Can my employer force me to take time off?Working in Switzerland: Can my employer force me to take time off?
Trump hits Switzerland with 31 percent tariff: What you need to knowTrump hits Switzerland with 31 percent tariff: What you need to know
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemap
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Aug 28, 2023
Jan de Boer

Editor at IamExpat Media

Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016. While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more

The Federal Economics Minister has unveiled plans to reform Sunday opening hours in Switzerland. Guy Parmelin said his plan to extend working hours would make Swiss cities more attractive as tourist destinations, while critics say the idea aims to scrap workers' right to a day off.

Switzerland looking to relax Sunday shopping rules

In a statement given to Watson, the Department of Economy, Training and Research confirmed that it was looking to relax the rules around Sunday shopping in Switzerland. Currently, the majority of shops in the alpine nation have to close their doors on Sundays, with the exception of those attached to train stations and airports, and those in a limited number of ski resorts.

Watson noted that while local authorities do control most regulations around working hours, Sunday working is one of the few aspects that remain anchored in federal law. The new plan, which was inspired by plans brought forward by Canton Zurich in 2022, would therefore allow all Swiss cantons to decide for themselves when and where Sunday shopping would be allowed. 

Sunday shopping would boost tourism, supporters argue

Economic Minister Guy Parmelin said that he would be looking into relaxing the rules by the end of November. Supporters of the proposal noted back in 2022 that Sunday shopping was “essential for technical and economic reasons” as Swiss stores and supermarkets are unable to benefit from the extra time to sell - especially stores that target tourists.

Speaking back in 2022, Canton Zurich State Councillor Carmen Walker-Späh said that the Sunday openings would likely be reserved for major tourist hotspots like Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Bern and Lausanne - although every canton would have the right to make their own rules. She added that it was unfair that ski resorts were not beholden to Sunday trading rules, noting that “in St. Moritz, you can also buy your ski equipment on Sundays. But if you forget your bathing suit in Zurich, you find yourself in front of closed doors.”

Plans would chip away at Swiss workers' rights, say opponents

Others are not so keen to see Sunday shopping rules dropped. Adrian Wüthrich, president of the Travailsuisse trade union, told Blick that the tourist justification is being used to chip away at workers’ rights to a day off on Sunday. He argued that tourism numbers have already “returned to pre-COVID levels, including in cities," so the change was far from necessary.

The union leader added that Sunday opening should not become the norm and that the new plans were the start of a slippery slope. He concluded that if the proposal passes, “in the blink of an eye, the ban on selling on Sundays will be completely over.”

Thumb image credit: trabantos / Shutterstock.com

By Jan de Boer