South Australia’s trading laws regulate the times that supermarkets, grocers, and other retailers can be open on any day – including public holidays.

A shop may be exempt from the state’s trading laws depending on its location, size and what it sells.

A shop is also only entitled to be opened on a Sunday or public holiday if each employee who works in the shop during that Sunday or public holiday has voluntarily accepted an offer to work on that day.

SafeWork SA can give advice to shop owners on their obligations and any exemptions for their brick-and-mortar store.

Call SafeWork SA on 1300 365 255 for specific advice or learn more about trading laws on the website.

If English is not your spoken language, call SafeWork SA. An interpreter can be arranged.

Quotes attributable to SafeWork SA Compliance and Enforcement Director Brett Pfeffer:

Trading hours aren’t always thought of as a safety issue, but they’re important for ensuring proper shift times, while protecting time off for workers.

There are exemptions for many brick-and-mortar shops, and we can help shop owners get certainty on whether retail trading laws apply.

When we visit a retail business because of their hours, we confirm details like the area size with the store, give them advice, and may issue a statutory notice to formally state that they need to comply with their legislative obligations.

Further links:

• Retail trading hours | SafeWork SA
• Shop Trading Hours Act 1977
• Shop Trading Hours Regulations 2018