[ad_1]
It is proposed to transfer to the municipalities the opportunity to license 120 m2. meter. and the opening hours of non-specialized points of sale that cover a wider commercial area, where the trade of food products includes the sale of food products, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.
Gintautas Paluckas, a member of the Social Democratic Party faction of the Seimas and other members of this faction – Linas Jonauskas, Liudas Jonaitis, Orinta Leiputė, Vilija Targamadzron, registered the modifications to the Code of Local Autonomy and Administrative Offenses.
It is proposed that the working time be determined on the basis of accounting for the total working time of 76 hours. per week. Working hours are determined by the municipal council by its decision.
“The working hours would apply equally to all the points of sale in the municipality in question, that is, the points of sale, regardless of the network to which they belong, would work the same hours, with the same hours established by the municipalities “said the explanatory note to the document.
It points out that there are similar regulations on working time in other EU Member States, such as Austria and Spain.
According to G. Paluckas, permits (licenses) would be issued every calendar year, there would be no charge for their issuance.
The project foresees that in the municipalities with spa status, the counting of the working hours of the points of sale during the summer calendar period could be increased up to 112 hours a week, if so decided by the municipalities. The information must be stated in the permit.
It is proposed to regulate that supermarkets and supermarket tenants follow the established hours, regardless of the nature of their activities.
„120 square meters. meter. The threshold was chosen because stores with an area greater than this size belong to companies with significant market power in the retail trade of food, beverages and tobacco products, of which there are currently 5 in Lithuania: Palink, Rimi Lietuva, Norfos mažmena ”/“ Rivona ”,“ Lidl Lietuva ”,“ Maxima Lt ”. Municipalities would issue licenses for such commerce with a scheduled trading schedule. Today, municipalities do it with alcohol outlets / licenses. This would allow the local government to find a “coexistence” regime between small, medium and large merchants, in addition to favoring the appearance of small establishments, “says Paluck.
The Code of Administrative Offenses proposes to provide an administrative liability of between € 150 and € 1,450 for the directors of the company and / or their financial directors in the event of a breach of working hours is detected.
At present, similar liability has been established for violations of the licensing procedure for the production, import and trade of alcohol and tobacco or related products.
The new legal framework is proposed to come into force in 2022. January 1
Currently, the opening hours of non-specialized points of sale, which include the sale of food, alcoholic beverages and tobacco products, are not licensed, nor is there any administrative responsibility for non-compliance with working hours.
Jadvyga Bieliavska (ELTA)
