The president of the Chamber of Commerce, Ray Shead, who represents shopkeepers, said that the status quo as recently decided by the States was the most sensible way forward.
Earlier this month, States Members voted to make Monday 28 December a bank holiday instead of Boxing Day, Saturday 26 December. The change was accepted to make sure that those people who did not normally work on a Saturday, such as most office employees, did not lose a bank holiday day off.
However, it has raised concerns that shop workers will now have just one day off for Christmas and might have to work on both the 26 and 28 December. There are currently three Boxing Day States propositions waiting to be debated from three different politicians.
Deputy Andrew Green wants to make Boxing Day (26 December) a restricted trading day, like a Sunday. His proposition would mean that only convenience shops would open.
Deputy Ian Gorst has tabled a motion to make it illegal for all shops, including convenience stores, to open on Christmas Day.
Finally Deputy Shona Pitman has produced a States projet calling on the States to make 26 December an additional bank holiday this year. That would mean that both 26 and 28 December would this year be a bank holiday.
