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Authority for Justice and Consumer Protection

Apply for an exemption from the ban on working on Sundays and public holidays

If you, as an employer, would like employees to work in your company or business on a Sunday or public holiday, you need a permit for this.
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Use Online-Service

Apply for exceptions to the Working Hours Act

Detailed description

You can apply for a permit to work on Sundays or public holidays for:
  • the implementation of house and order fairs for commercial resellers
  • the prevention of disproportionate damage in a company due to special circumstances, such as a very high level of sick leave or late delivery of materials.
  • the legally required inventory, if this cannot be done on a weekday.
If there are other reasons, these will also be checked and work on Sundays or public holidays will be approved if necessary.

The general ban on working on Sundays and public holidays does not apply to activities that serve to satisfy the needs of the population, such as:
  • Services of general interest (e.g. in caring for the sick or caring for animals),
  • Services (e.g. in restaurants or with taxi companies) as well as
  • Leisure activities (e.g. in theatres, football or leisure facilities)
  • Use in emergencies and exceptional cases (work that cannot be postponed, such as repairs to burst pipes or storm damage to roofs).
Maximum limits apply for certain exceptions.  

Information

Prerequisites

As an employer, you need a permit from the Office for Occupational Safety and Health of the Authority for Justice and Consumer Protection if you want to work on a Sunday or public holiday.

You can only apply for permission to work on Sundays and public holidays if you are an employer.

Documents required

  • Opinion of the works council (if any)
  • You can find out which documents are required in your case from the application form from the local competent authority.

Please note

No

Deadlines

The application must be received no later than 4 working days before the requested date in order to ensure processing.


In the event of unforeseeable events, the application can be submitted by 10:00 a.m. on the last office day before the assignment.







Procedure

You can apply for permission to work on Sundays and public holidays online or in writing.

If you want to apply online for Sunday and public holiday work, the following steps must be taken:

  • Access to the online service
  • You fill out the fields of the online service completely and send it to the Office for Occupational Safety and Health, including the documents and evidence listed in the application.
  • If the documents or information required for processing are incomplete, you will be contacted by the administrative department.
  • The Office for Occupational Safety and Health examines the application.
  • If the requirements for approval are met, you will receive a notification of approval, otherwise a notification of rejection.
  • The decision will be sent to you by e-mail or by post.
  • The notice of fees will usually be sent to you later.
  • Note: The online service is currently under development and will be made available to you soon.
If you want to apply in writing for permission to work on Sundays and public holidays, the following steps must be carried out:
  • You fill out the relevant application form completely
  • You send it to the Office for Occupational Safety and Health, including the documents listed in the application.
  • If the documents or information required for processing are incomplete, you will be contacted by the administrative department.
  • If the requirements for approval are met, you will receive a notification of approval, otherwise a notification of rejection.
  • The decision will be sent to you by e-mail or by post.
  • The notice of fees will usually be sent to you later.

Processing time

The processing time depends on the workload of the Office for Occupational Safety and Health.

Fees

Since the fees are charged according to the effort involved, please inquire at the Office for Occupational Safety and Health about the processing fees incurred. The exact costs will be determined after the approval.

Legal remedies


  • contradiction

  • Objections to the decision can be lodged with the Office for Occupational Safety and Health within one month of notification.

  • An unsuccessful objection procedure is subject to a fee.

Legal basis

§ 13 Paragraph 3 No. 2a, 2b and 2c Working Hours Act (ArbZG)

§ 13 paragraph 4 and 5 Working Hours Act (ArbZG)

Forms and downloads

Links on hamburg.de

Address and contact information

Authority for Justice and Consumer Protection

State Occupational Safety Inspectorate

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Keywords: Sunday work Osh Exemption Leisure time compensation working hours Holiday work Replacement day of rest employee protection

Last updated: 18.05.2025