A petition with over 150,000 signatures is calling to close all retail shops on December 26. However, the government has responded saying it is not for them to tell businesses how to run.
Labour MP Helen Jones has stated that the current Boxing Day system is exploiting lower paid workers, and deprives them time with their families over the holidays. Jones felt that recent evidence submitted to her committee has convinced her that the government should take action.
“I went from feeling quite indifferent about Boxing Day openings to believing it does exploit very low paid workers, who often have to work late on Christmas Eve to get the shops ready and then have to go in very early on Boxing Day morning,” she says.
Along with public transport and childcare running on holiday hours, making it difficult just to be at work, the additional pay has all but disappeared across the sector.
“What I’ve not seen is anything to convince me that Boxing Day generates extra trade, as opposed to just moving it from another day. No one died because a shop was shut, and I think we are exercising our freedom to shop whenever we want on the backs of some very low-paid workers, who are being exploited and being denied the freedom to expect to have time with their families.”
However, boxing day has been a tradition for many families. In Canada, over 120,000 made their way to Yorkdale Shopping Centre on December 26 this year—compared to an average 75,000 weekend turnout. Many consumers prefer boxing day over Black Friday or Cyber Monday. In fact, one in three consumers were estimated to go shopping and to spend an average of $244 across all retail sectors. While Canada does extend their sales for a full week after Christmas, one has to wonder how shutting down on the most popular shopping day of the year would affect sales.
