Voli Opposes Sunday Work, Calls for Community Dialogue

The Montenegrin retail company Voli has announced its firm opposition to the introduction of Sunday work, stating it will not operate on Sundays until a mutually agreed solution is reached through a comprehensive social dialogue. This position follows a recent ruling by the Constitutional Court of Montenegro, which opened the possibility for markets to operate on Sundays.

In a statement, Voli emphasized that any decision regarding Sunday work must be addressed through an inclusive dialogue involving all relevant stakeholders. The company stressed the need to respect the interests of the economy, employees, consumers, and the state.

Call for Fair Legislation

Voli stated that the current legal framework must ensure equal standing for all market participants while preventing selective enforcement of laws. They indicated that if the Montenegrin Assembly decides to maintain Sunday as a non-working day, it is essential to clearly define rules applicable to all sectors.

According to the company’s view, petrol stations should be allowed to sell only petroleum products on Sundays, while hospitality establishments could operate without offering a full range of goods typically found in markets. Furthermore, markets should be permitted to sell agricultural and dairy products, while bakeries should limit their offerings to basic baked goods.

Voli warned that permitting certain entities to operate similarly to practices under the now-invalid Article 35a of the Law on Internal Trade could disrupt market balance and foster unfair competition.

Understanding the Economic Context

The company recognizes the sensitivity surrounding the issue of Sunday work, particularly in light of the importance of tourism for the Montenegrin economy. Voli’s statement highlighted the potential impact on tourist perceptions and state revenue. The company called for a solution that is constitutionally sound, economically justified, and uniformly applicable to all market participants, without exceptions that could lead to unequal treatment.

Voli urged the government to engage in discussions with all social partners and representatives of the economy, especially those from the retail sector, to reach a sustainable and effective resolution. It expressed concern that the current representative of employers in social dialogue has been dismissive of retail sector proposals, offering solutions that lack consensus with both industry and workers.

In conclusion, Voli remains open to dialogue and is prepared to collaborate with social partners and government institutions to find a resolution that benefits the entire Montenegrin economy and society.