Lidl is a key partner of the initiative of the Civil Unity Forum and Egyenlő.hu, within the framework of which all 200 stores of the market-leading supermarket chain will be closed on December 24, one of Hungary's biggest Christian holidays. According to the unanimous opinion of the parties, this is a pioneering step for Hungarian employees working in trade and their family members, who can thus spend the entire holiday in peace and tranquility with their loved ones.

The aim of CÖF-CÖKA (Civil Szefghags Közhaznú Alapítvány) and Egyenlő.hu, the modern trade union, is to keep commercial units closed on the holiday of love, December 24, representing the interests of trade workers. It handles the largest turnover in the food industry sector

Lidl Hungary fully supported the initiative and decided to keep all 200 of its stores closed on Christmas Eve, i.e. to give its employees a day off on December 24.

Jenő Grósz, the chairman of the management board of Lidl Hungary, said: "As a market-leading store chain, we consider it important to set an example and further strengthen Hungary's core values. The importance of family is not a question for us, which is why we decided to provide a day off for all 8,500 of our employees on the holiday of love. Of course, we also keep in mind the interests of our customers, whom we will be expecting with extended opening hours on December 23, in order to ensure that customer needs are served at the highest level."

"Egyenlő.hu considers the agreement with Lidl Hungary to be extremely important. On the part of the company, a gesture was made towards the workers in response to an announcement that has never been seen before in Hungary. We appreciate the company's attitude for this action. He was the first to step in and announce to his employees that he would provide them with a rest day on December 24. With the help of social solidarity, it is possible for other chains to realize that profit making is not everything in this case. This was highlighted by CÖF-CÖKA's work with us, which contributes to a new type of community spirit that represents the employees directly," Csaba Bubenkokó pointed out to ezveta.hu, the president of the modern trade union.

In connection with the tripartite agreement, the president of the Civil Solidarity Public Foundation CÖF-CÖKA, dr. President László Csizmadia added: "One day is not the world in shopping, but one more day to be at home with the family at Christmas can even mean the world to us!"

MTI Photo: János Marjai