The Commerce and Employment Department is not responsible for the day-to-day administration of Sunday trading matters. This role is undertaken by the ten island parish authorities (the Parish Constables and Douzaines).

However the Commerce and Employment Department has to be consulted by the parish in respect of most applications for a Sunday trading licence.

For the sake of island wide uniformity the Department has produced some notes for guidance for traders, which provide an explanation of the requirements of the law.

Before completing the relevant licence application form, it is advisable to read the Trader Guidelines, which can be downloaded on the right of this page.

On the right of this page are links that will allow you to download the appropriate licence application form.

Please note the completed form must be returned to the parish in which the shop is located. If the application is for a mobile shop the application must be sent to the parish of residence of the proprietor of the shop.

Do not send completed forms to the Commerce and Employment Department.

Should you require any further information please contact your parish officials. (Details are included in the telephone directory).

Employee Protection Rights

Under the Employment Protection (Sunday Shop Working) (Guernsey) Law, 2001, shop workers have the right;

• not to be dismissed
• not to be selected for redundancy
• not suffer any other detriment

for refusing, or proposing to refuse, to do work in or about a shop on a Sunday. These rights apply irrespective of age, length of service or hours of work. However, they do not apply to those employed to work only on Sundays. See the advisory booklet "The Requirements of the Employment Protection (Sunday Shop Working) (Guernsey) Law, 2001" for more detailed information on employee's rights and employer's obligations.