With the latest legal amendments to the Labour Relations Law and the Trade Law, starting from 01.01.2022, Sunday is officially a day of weekly rest (previously, as a legal solution, any day of the week could be selected as the weekly rest day).
There are exceptions to this rule in certain areas, where another day of the week may be determined as the weekly rest day.
Activities where work on Sunday is permitted
In certain activities, work on Sunday is permitted due to the nature of the work process, public interest, or the need for continuous functioning.
- raising of animals;
- mixed farming;
- mining of coal and lignite;
- mining of metal ores;
- printing and publishing of newspapers;
- production of bread, fresh pastry goods and biscuits;
- production of beer, only in processes related to brewing, yeast preparation and monitoring, fermentation, filtration and energy support for these processes;
- production of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations;
- production of plates, sheets, tubes and profiles of plastic materials;
- production of industrial gas;
- production of metals;
- pharmacies;
- supply of electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning;
- water supply, wastewater disposal, waste management and environmental remediation activities;
- land, pipeline, water and air transport;
- warehousing and support activities for transportation;
- accommodation facilities;
- food preparation and food service activities;
- film, video and television programme activities;
- programme broadcasting;
- telecommunications;
- information service activities such as hosting, data processing, web portals and similar services;
- film screening;
- photographic activities;
- veterinary activities;
- renting and leasing of motor vehicles;
- private security activities and security system service activities;
- call centre activities;
- general public administration activities, only for urgent and unavoidable tasks related to holding sessions, inspections, forest protection, and work of vital importance for the state and public interest;
- defence-related work;
- judicial and legal activities;
- public order and safety activities;
- fire service activities;
- healthcare activities;
- residential social care activities;
- creative, artistic and entertainment activities;
- museum activities;
- activities of zoos and nature reserves;
- sports, amusement and recreation activities;
- funeral and related activities;
- customs service at border crossings;
- activities that have the character of auxiliary or supporting activities for the uninterrupted functioning of the activities listed above, based on an agreement concluded with an employer from those activities;
- job positions from other activities not covered above, but which have the character of auxiliary and supporting work necessary for the uninterrupted performance of the employer’s main activity.
| Right | What it means | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Salary supplement | The employee is entitled to a supplement for every hour spent working on Sunday. | at least 50% |
| Weekly rest | The employee has the right to use weekly rest in the following period. | within the next 7 days |
Wholesale and retail trade
In wholesale and retail trade, under the Trade Law, Sunday is provided as the legal day of weekly rest, except in several cases.
Exceptions to the rule for wholesale and retail trade
| Exception | Description | Working hours / condition |
|---|---|---|
| Specialized stores or kiosks | Sale of ice cream, cakes and snacks, flowers, souvenirs, filigree, newspapers and cigarettes in tourist places determined under the Law on Tourist Activity. | 8 hours |
| Stores at petrol stations | Retail trade mainly involving food, beverages and tobacco. | 00:00 – 23:59 |
| Shopping centres | Stores, kiosks and stands in shopping centres with a minimum effective retail area of 8,000 m2. | 10:00 – 20:00 |
| Events, festivals, fairs and screenings | Stands and kiosks where goods are sold during sports events, festivals and manifestations, fairs and public screenings of cinematographic works. | per event |
| Small food, beverage and tobacco stores | Retail stores for food without fruit and vegetables, beverages and tobacco, where the trade is personally carried out only by the owner. | condition |
| Green markets | Work at green markets. | 8 hours |
Fines for non-compliance with the law
All aspects of this law need to be implemented, because fines for non-compliance amount to:
| Category | Fine | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Trader | EUR 7,000 – 10,000 | For non-compliance with legal obligations. |
| Micro trader | EUR 800 – 1,000 | Fine according to the trader category. |
| Small trader | EUR 1,600 – 2,000 | Fine according to the trader category. |
| Medium trader | EUR 3,000 – 6,000 | Fine according to the trader category. |
Frequently asked questions about Sunday work
Is Sunday a non-working day?
Yes. Starting from 01.01.2022, Sunday is officially a day of weekly rest, with exceptions in certain areas.
Where is work on Sunday permitted?
Work on Sunday is permitted in certain activities and exceptions, as part of work processes that cannot be fully interrupted or in cases specifically provided by law.
How much is the salary supplement for Sunday work?
In activities where Sunday work is permitted, the employee is entitled to a salary supplement of at least 50% for every hour spent working. In trade, the supplement for work on Sundays and holidays amounts to at least 100%.
Does Sunday work need to be reported?
In wholesale and retail trade, in cases where Sunday work is permitted, the work must be reported to the Central Registry 15 days before the start of Sunday work.
Do you need support with working hours and Sunday work?
The proper application of the legal provisions for Sunday as a non-working day requires accurate organization, timely reporting when required, and proper calculation of salary supplements.
Aleksandar.AK can help you with accounting, administrative and consulting support for proper compliance in your company.