Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović has submitted a proposal to the Parliament to amend the Constitution, aiming to establish a general rule that employees in Montenegro do not work on Sundays and legally recognized public holidays. The proposed amendment would also allow for exceptions in sectors where work is necessary to protect the public interest.
Milatović explained that the move follows a recent Constitutional Court decision which struck down a provision of the 2019 Law on Internal Trade, citing violations of entrepreneurial freedom and equality before the law.
The ruling highlighted that some traders were allowed to operate on Sundays while others were prohibited, creating legal uncertainty for tens of thousands of employees. The president emphasized that the amendment would prevent similar disputes in the future by giving workers’ rights a clear constitutional foundation.
The proposal is inspired by the German constitutional model, where Sundays and public holidays are recognized as days of rest and spiritual development, with specific exceptions for essential services such as hospitals, emergency services, transport, energy, media, and hospitality. Milatović stressed that non-working Sundays are not a privilege, but a minimum standard of dignified work, supporting rest, family life, and health protection — fundamental values for a fair and sustainable society.
