Applying for an exemption from the ban on working on Sundays and public holidays
If you as an employer wish to have employees work in your company or business on a Sunday or public holiday, you require a permit to do so.
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Basic information
As an employer, you require a permit from the local authority responsible for occupational health and safety if you wish to work on a Sunday or public holiday.
You can apply for a permit to work on Sundays or public holidays if you
- wish to hold in-house and order fairs for commercial resellers,
- want to prevent disproportionate damage to a business due to special circumstances, for example due to a very high sickness rate or a late delivery of materials,
- want to carry out the legally required stocktaking if this cannot be done on a weekday.
If there are other reasons, these will also be examined and work on Sundays or public holidays will be approved if necessary.
Certain activities are exempt from the general ban on working on Sundays and public holidays, such as
- Services of general interest:
- for example, caring for the sick or looking after animals,
- services:
- for example in restaurants or with cab companies, and
- leisure activities:
- for example in theaters, soccer or leisure facilities,
- Use in emergencies and exceptional cases:
- For example, work that cannot be postponed, such as repairs to burst pipes or storm damage to roofs.
Maximum limits apply for certain exceptions.
Requirements
- You can only apply for authorization to work on Sundays and public holidays if you are an employer.
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Procedure
You can apply for authorization to work on Sundays and public holidays in writing. The following steps must be carried out:
- Complete the relevant application form in full or submit an informal application.
- You send it to the locally responsible office. Please note
- For applications in accordance with §§ 13 Para. 4 and Para. 5, 15 Para. 2 Working Hours Act (ArbZG), please send your application to the Senator for Health, Women and Consumer Protection (the address is on file at the responsible office).
- For applications in accordance with Section 13 (3) ArbZG, please send your application to the Trade Supervisory Authority of the State of Bremen (the address can be found at the responsible office).
- If the documents or information required for processing are incomplete, you will be contacted by the processing department.
- Once the official review has been completed, you will receive a notice of approval or a notice of rejection.
- The locally responsible office will send you the decision by e-mail or post.
- The notification of fees will usually be sent to you separately.
More information
You are only permitted to work on Sundays and/or public holidays once you have received a permit. A retroactive permit cannot be issued for a previous Sunday or public holiday.
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Necessary Documents
- Application form
- via the homepage of the trade supervisory authority or
- informal letter to the senatorial authority (SGFV)
- Statement from the works council (if available)
- Application form
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Competent Department
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State of Bremen Trade Inspectorate | Based in Bremen Gewerbeaufsicht des Landes Bremen | Dienstort Bremen
- +49 421 361 6260
- Parkstraße 58-60, 28209 Bremen
- Website
- office
@gewerbeaufsicht. bremen. de
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State of Bremen Trade Inspectorate | Bremerhaven Office Gewerbeaufsicht des Landes Bremen | Dienstort Bremerhaven
- 0471 596132-70
- Lange Straße 119, 27580 Bremerhaven
- Website
- office
@gewerbeaufsicht. bremen. de
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The Senator for Health, Women and Consumer Protection | Division 33: Health and Safety at Work, Technical and Material Consumer Protection, Weights and Measures, Genetic Engineering Die Senatorin für Gesundheit, Frauen und Verbraucherschutz | Referat 33 Arbeitsschutz, Technischer und stofflicher Verbraucherschutz, Eichwesen, Gentechnik
- +49 421 361 0 oder 115
- Faulenstraße 9/15, 28195 Bremen
- Website
- office
@gesundheit. bremen. de
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Fees / Costs
129,50 EUR to 5.500,00 EUR The current cost rates apply as amended. The current cost ordinance can be found in the legal bases.
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Deadlines & processing time
What deadlines must be paid attention to?
No deadlines apply.
How long does it take to process
The processing time depends on the workload of the locally responsible offices and the completeness of the documents.
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More Information
- Allgemeine Kontaktdaten - Gewerbeaufsicht des Landes Bremen -Arbeits- und Immissionsschutzbehörde
- Broschüre zum Arbeitszeitgesetz des Bundesministeriums für Arbeit und Soziales (BMAS) mit Informationen zur Sonn- und Feiertagsarbeit
- General contact details – Bremen State Labour Inspectorate – Labour and Environmental Protection Authority
- Brochure on the Working Hours Act published by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS), containing information on working on Sundays and public holidays
This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.
The official information in German is complete and correct.
Updated on 23.09.2026