In Europe, the proportion of workers reporting working Sundays increased between 2010 and 2015. COMECE believes that a work-free Sunday is an essential pillar of the European social model. Together with the European Sunday Alliance, we launch a call for action to show the need for a common EU-wide regulation.
Sunday is of great importance because it allows families to spend time together, employees to rest from their daily work life and citizens to engage in community.
The European Sunday Alliance aims to promote and re-integrate the Sunday as the common weekly day of rest in the EU working-time directive. The network of the Sunday Alliance believes that, in particular in times of digitalisation, all citizens of the European Union are entitled to benefit from decent working hours and that only essential services should operate on a Sunday.
On the occasion of the 3rd March, the European Day for a Work-Free Sunday, the members and supporters of the European Sunday Alliance from all over Europe are invited to issue statements and pictures to illustrate why a work-free Sunday is special. Members of the European Parliament, the National Sunday Alliances as well as representatives of labour unions, the Churches and youth organisations reacted already to the call and sent their statements.