The Finnish parliament yesterday passed legislation allowing shops to stay open on Sundays all year round.

The daily Savon Sanomat welcomes the decision, which it says was long overdue:

“In recent times there was an unclear practice that certainly left the average consumer disgruntled.

… According to the opinion polls the majority of consumers favoured the liberalisation of opening hours. Employees’ and Employers’ associations were also in favour. It’s good that the majority of politicians have finally bowed to the inevitable.

The ongoing recession has reduced the number of jobs. Unemployment is expected to continue rising right into the next year. The trade unions are happy that the liberalised shop opening hours will secure an additional 1,000 man-years approximately [equivalent to up to 2.000 jobs].

This means new full-time jobs and more hours for part-time employees. Why didn’t we do this before now?”