Small Majorcan businesses at risk after “incomprehensible” law is approved

Pimeco, the entity representing small and medium businesses in Majorca  yesterday slammed the government’s Trade and Commerce department for accepting proposals to declare Marratxi, Campos and Palma city centre as “Areas of Great Tourist affluence”.
The declaration means stores with an area greater than 300 square metres could extend their opening hours and potentially open on some bank holidays and Sundays, a result Pimeco says “goes against the government’s promise to  promote fair trade for all”.
Pimeco believes smaller businesses will not be able to compete with the larger stores.
If the decision to declare Palma city centre  as such an area comes as little surprise, Marraxti and Campos were not so clear, with Pimeco arguing that neither council has “successfully met all the requirements set out by trading authorities to be declared such an area”. If this goes ahead, the Balearic government would be breaking its  own  trading laws,” a representative from Pimeco said yesterday.