QLD retailers get extended Christmas hours

busy Melbourne streetThe Queensland Industrial Relations Commission has ruled that retailers can stay open until midnight in the days leading up to Christmas.

Several shopping centres across the South-East Queensland region, from the Brisbane CBD to the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, for the first time will have the opportunity to extend trading hours until midnight on each day from December 19-23.

National Retail Association CEO Dominique Lamb said the decision will provide a real boost to the retail sector during the Christmas period and that it is a win for retailers and consumers.

“The retail sector has undergone a challenging cycle in the past few months and this decision will hopefully help,” she said.

“Not only will the extension of trading hours in the days leading up to Christmas give retailers a much-needed boost, it will also provide greater choice to consumers during a busy time of year.”

The decision was also made following an agreement between the NRA and Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association that any staff who work extra hours will only do so voluntarily.

“I’m pleased to say that the NRA has worked constructively with the SDA during this process to ensure that safeguards remain in place for retail workers.

“Any retail worker who works the extra hours in the days leading up to Christmas will only do so on a voluntary basis.”

The decision comes off the back of last week’s decision by the Commission to grant an application by the NRA for large retail stores to open from 8am to 5pm on this year’s Christmas Public Holiday, which falls on Tuesday, December 27.

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