New winter closing hours take effect for shops and restaurants starting Friday

Starting on Friday, September 25, updated winter business hours will be implemented for various commercial establishments across the country. Shops and malls will now open at 7:00 AM and close at 10:00 PM each day, with extended operating hours until 11:00 PM on Thursdays, Fridays, and national holidays. Restaurants, cafés, and bazaars will commence their services at 5:00 AM and conclude at midnight daily, with late-night operations until 1:00 AM on Thursdays, Fridays, and public holidays.

Takeaway and 24-hour delivery services will remain uninterrupted during this transition. Certain activities, including workshops and craft businesses located in residential areas, are permitted to operate from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily. However, workshops situated along highways or connected to service stations are subject to specific operational rules issued by local administration authorities.

The decree explicitly excludes critical services such as grocery stores, supermarkets, bakeries, pharmacies, fruit, vegetable, poultry, and meat markets to ensure continuous public convenience. Winter business hours are not affected by daylight saving time adjustments. Standard winter time will be reinstated on October 29, when clocks are set back by 60 minutes at midnight to revert to 11:00 PM.