Cabinet yesterday decided that all shop owners in Malta and Gozo will be able to open their establishments on a number of listed public holidays, this year and next year.

In a statement, the Chamber for SMEs (GRTU), said members that were usually deprived of the right to open on 31 March, unless they pay for a special licence costing €700, will not be facing such a problem this time, after the government upheld the GRTU’s request.

All shops will therefore be able to open next Saturday (31 March) and operate normally as on every other Saturday. The GRTU added that the government has also upheld its request to let shop owners decide for themselves whether to open or not, during certain listed public holidays.

Meanwhile, no one will be obliged to open their shop.

Shop owners will be able to open on:

• 31 March

• 8 April (Easter Sunday)

• 1 May

• 7 and 29 June

• 8 and 21 September

Next year, shops will also be able to open on 10 February, besides the established dates for this year. Further details will appear in the Legal Notice to be published today.