The Minister of Agriculture, about the closing of hypermarkets on the weekend: “If we did a survey, the Romanians would not agree”

The Minister of Agriculture, Florin Barbu, spoke on Saturday, March 23, about the proposal that hypermarkets be closed on Saturdays and Sundays to benefit small retailers.

“I had a discussion with the government with the small retailers, they had this request to be closed on weekends, Saturdays and Sundays, these stores. The small retailers are the Romanian processors who also have outlets. The drop in sales at small shops is very large during the weekend. Many Romanians work during the week and on the weekend they go and relax, they go to the mall, there is also a supermarket in the mall, so they also shop. I don’t think I can, as Minister of Agriculture, force you when to do your shopping. Your free time is on the weekend. During the week everyone works, everyone has problems. If we did a survey, even the Romanians would not agree. During the week, many people go to work, they have very little time to go shopping. On Saturdays and Sundays I go out with the children, go shopping, have fun and other things”, explained the Minister of Agriculture on Prima TV.

Asked if, in conclusion, the operating schedule for hypermarkets will be changed, Florin Barbu answered: “I do not agree with this. From my point of view, I do not agree with this aspect”.

As for the European states where the big chain stores are closed on the weekend, Florin Barbu said: “I was in the area of ​​France. I think they were closed on Sundays after 1 p.m., but on Saturdays they were open.”

Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu recently announced that he has submitted for analysis the proposal regarding the eventual closing of supermarkets on the weekend, to see what is the impact of such a proposal. The PSD leader also said that a decision in this regard “is not an easy one”.