Heraklion: Premiere for festive hours during the Easter period – “Support local shops”, say traders

The festive opening hours of Heraklion shops for the Easter season premieres the day after tomorrow, Palm Sunday. After an “anemic” sales period, merchants hope that gifts for christenings and the Easter table will give the necessary financial “breath” to their coffers. Yes, by mouth of their president Manolis Koumantakis, the merchants of Heraklion appeal to consumers to support local businesses.

In more detail, the Easter opening hours in the market of Heraklion are as follows:

* The day after tomorrow, Sunday, the shops will be open from 11 am to 6 pm.

* On M. Monday, M. Tuesday and M. Wednesday the market will operate with split hours, specifically from 9 am to 2:30 pm and from 5:30 pm to 9 pm.

* On M. Thursday the shops will be open from 9 am to 9 pm.

* On M. Friday from 12 noon to 6 pm.

* On M. Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm.

* Please note, finally, that on Easter Day, Easter Monday and Tuesday, May 7 (i.e. the day on which the May Day holiday has been moved) the shops will be closed.

Market reinforcement

At the same time, the president of the Heraklion Trade Association, Manolis Koumantakis, is asking consumers to support local businesses, as their money is recycled into the local economy.
In particular, as he told Radio 98.4, “we know the needs of society, the finances of households, but we hope that the market will strengthen, as well as the micro-economy of households”.
Finally, Mr. Koumantakis also referred to the possibility given by the law for the optional opening of shops on Sunday, and added that a timetable was drawn up that will also serve the faithful for their religious obligations.

“Never on Sunday”: Employees react to the Sunday opening of stores

“Hands down from the Sunday holiday”, declares the Union of Private Employees by mouth Democritus Salustros, who, speaking on Radio 98.4, spoke of “schedule – “rubber””.

Mr. Saloustros referred to practices of non-payment of Sunday work increments and expressed his dismay at the decision to assign working hours by the Municipalities, with all that this entails for workers in tourist areas.

“Employees are obviously not going to hand over their house keys to the employer. Because that’s practically what they’re asking us for. Let’s hand over the keys to our house to the employer and let her decide when we see our children and when we see our husbands, whenever and however they want,” he noted.

At the same time, Dimokritos Saloustros reminds: “We start from “Black Friday”. We have the preparation for the Christmas and New Year offers. Immediately after the sales season, Easter follows. There is not even a day of rest for the workers and their families. The direction is to fully expand the schedule. In some areas it has been proposed to investigate the opening hours on all Sundays of the year until 11 and 12 at night, such as in the Municipality of Hersonissos”.