The Bill, which was announced in the Budget 2012, will mean that shops with a relevant floor area of more than 280 square metres will not be subject to current Sunday trading restrictions during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The suspension will only be for eight Sundays, from 22 July to the end of the Paralympic Games on 9 September. After this period the current Sunday trading restrictions will apply again.
Given the short timetable before the start of the Games, the Government tabled an amendment to temporarily reduce the usual period of notice that employees must give their employers if they wish to opt out of Sunday working, from three months to as little as two months.
Business Minister Mark Prisk said: “The Olympic and Paralympic Games are almost upon us and you can sense the excitement building. This will be a fantastic opportunity to showcase, not just London, but the whole of the country to the rest of the world and provide a boost for the economy, sales and employment.
“Retail workers will keep all their legal protections, such as the right to opt-out of Sunday working, but many will want to take the opportunity to work extra or different hours. I want employers to work with their staff so that we can all make the most of the Olympics.
“I want to make it clear that this is a temporary measure and not a test case for a permanent relaxation of the rules in the future.”
