Traders say 'no' to staggered holidays

HYDERABAD: Divergent opinions prevailed during a meeting called by various trader associations in the twin cities and major towns of the state to discuss about staggered holidays for shops. Though majority of them felt that the staggered holiday system was not correct and that all shops should be closed on Sunday, some felt that the shops should remain open 365 days with the staff getting weekly offs on rotation basis.

According to state traders welfare association president K Dilip, the new system of staggered holidays was not suitable for the traders as well as the customers who come from distant districts for buying goods. He said people coming from neighbouring districts would find it difficult to buy goods at various places like Abids and Secunderabad on one day due to staggered holidays.

As majority of the members agreed with this argument, the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FAPPCI) president Sekhar Agarwal said the traders associations had unanimously adopted a resolution demanding government to stop implementing the system of staggered holiday system which began from last week.

A delegation of Fappci and traders' association will meet chief minister N Kirankumar Reddy and labour department officials to apprise them of problems being faced by traders due to implementation of the staggered holiday system in cities and major towns in the state.