Montenegrin Parliament Debates Sunday Trade Ban Amid Economic Concerns

Montenegro’s parliament is currently engaged in discussions regarding a proposed ban on Sunday trading, with lawmakers expressing a near-unanimous stance in favor of maintaining a non-working Sunday. Miloš Pižurica, a member of the Pokret Evropa sad (PES), voiced concerns that reintroducing Sunday trading could lead to increased prices and fuel inflation. He argued that the notion of a non-working Sunday being detrimental to Montenegro’s economy is unfounded, stating, “It all comes down to tourists needing to buy a bottle of water in Montenegro on a Sunday.”

The debate centers around amendments to the Law on Internal Trade, initiated by PES, which aims to guarantee a non-working Sunday. This discussion follows a comprehensive session of the Assembly’s Committee on Economy, Finance, and Budget. A prior ruling by the Constitutional Court of Montenegro deemed Article 35a of the Law on Internal Trade unconstitutional, effectively nullifying the ban on Sunday trading. This decision was published in the Official Gazette of Montenegro.

In light of this ruling, the PES parliamentary group has requested an extraordinary session of parliament to amend the previously invalidated law. Additionally, Jakov Milatović, the President of Montenegro, has proposed an amendment to the Constitution, seeking to enshrine the principle that employees in Montenegro should not work on Sundays or public holidays.

The Social Council has unanimously approved changes to the Law on Internal Trade, suggesting that stores in Montenegro should be allowed to operate on Sundays, but only during peak summer and winter tourist seasons, and with restrictions on the number of shifts and locations per municipality. This proposal is still pending a decision from the government.

Nikola Rakočević from the Demokratska partija socijalista (DPS) highlighted that a similar decision to establish a non-working Sunday was passed in 2019 when his party was in power. As discussions unfold, the implications of these legislative changes on Montenegro’s economy and tourism sector remain critical considerations for lawmakers. The outcome of this debate may set a precedent for labor policies in the country, reflecting the balance between economic activity and worker rights.