# Austrian Retailers Push for Longer Opening Hours

October 24, 2026 at 06:20 PM

> Proposals to extend weekly retail hours to 78 and deregulate unstaffed boxes spark debate among Austrian business leaders and unions.

The debate over Austrian retail opening hours has intensified as Neos State Secretary **Josef Schellhorn** and **Rewe Austria** CEO **Marcel Haraszti** propose liberalization. Haraszti seeks to extend weekly hours from 72 to 78 and deregulate unstaffed supply boxes.

While Rewe dismisses Sunday openings, **Intersport** and the Austrian Hotel Association support them for tourism. However, XXXLutz warns of higher costs without sales growth, and the **GPA union** opposes extensions to protect the majority-female retail workforce.

Public opinion remains divided, with an IHaM survey showing only 38 percent of Austrians support Sunday shopping, though interest exceeds 50 percent in Vienna. Meanwhile, some retailers reportedly risk fines to operate illegally during restricted periods.


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