The French-own retailer Carrefour has reached an agreement with the trade unions that will see all the hypermarkets and Carrefour Market supermarkets that Carrefour runs in-house open on Sunday mornings. The new opening hours will take effect from next month.
From 18 January, the 40 Carrefour hypermarkets and 43 integrated Carrefour Market stores will open every Sunday from 8am to midday. Currently only the around 600 franchised Carrefour Market supermarkets and Carrefour Express shops routinely traded on Sundays.
The staff that work in the supermarkets and hypermarkets that Carrefour runs in-house will only have to work on Sundays if they volunteer to do so. Those working on Sunday’s will receive 150% of their normal hourly pay for the hour they work then. Staff hired after Carrefour commences Sunday trading may be required to work Sundays as part of their contract. The deal also a 1.50 in the value of the luncheon vouchers that Carrefour gives to its staff from March 2026 and guaranteed fixed time off in exchange for greater flexibility.
The unions say that the agreement offers job-security guarantees, including a commitment put the stores currently run in-house out to franchise. The issue has been particularly sensitive since Delhaize franchised out all its 128 stores. Reports earlier this week had claimed that Carrefour was considering withdrawing from Belgium, a claim the company denies.
Carrefour Belgium says that opening on Sundays will strengthen its market position “in a way that respects those that work here”.
The move comes as Sunday trading becomes increasingly common in Belgium. Delhaize’s franchised stores are already open on Sundays. Meanwhile, Colruyt’s OKay neighbourhood stores will begin Sunday trading early next year. Pressure is mounting on Aldi, Lidl and the larger Colruyt stores, which say Sunday opening is too costly under current employment legislation.