When stores can be kept open without employees being at work, the most important argument for keeping closed on Sundays disappears, says Bård Hoksrud (Frp).
Automation and self-service boxes that allow shops to be open without employees being present, should be the final death blow for ‘Brustadbua’, says parlimentary representative Bård Hoksrud (FRP) to Vårt Land.
The argument against Sunday-openings has been that the employees should not have to work. The automation of stores means that some of that debate is gone. Then the only thing that remains is the principled opposition to Sunday-opening of stores, Hoksrud believes.
In Oslo, Coop has opened a shop that is open 24 hours a day, but at night there are no employees at work. Customers lock in with BankID and do everything themselves. The chain says it does not aim to open on Sundays, even without employees.
Our opposition is about other things than that people should not be at work on Sunday, but rather that Sunday should be different day. On Sundays, people can do other things than go to the store, says communication manager Harald Kristiansen in Coop.
This line is supported by KrF’s Geir Toskedal, who still want to keep the day of rest holy.
We should treat Sundays as a different day. Sunday trading only leads to more consumption and materialism, and we have no need for that, he says.
© NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today
