Italian shopkeepers are always grumbling about the number of permits they need from city authorities to remain within the law, and Italian shoppers always seem to be grumbling about the restrictive practices which limit the sort of goods which can be sold in any one shop and the rigidity of opening hours. Here in Rome, for example, all food shops close frustratingly for three and a half hours in the middle of the day, even in winter.

Now all this is to be swept away by the reforming socialist government of Romano Prodi. Shops will be allowed to stay open from seven in the morning until ten at night if they wish, and they'll also be able to remain open on Sundays.

Shop categories are to be drastically simplified from the present 14 varieties of shop to only two, food and non-food shops. No permits of any sort will be required to open a shop with a sales area of under 300 square metres, while permits for supermarkets and hypermarkets will be dealt with by regional, not by city authorities.

Shopkeepers associations have been protesting strongly against the new rules, which won't come into force for at least a year. They fear that retail trade is going to become a free-for-all, and they resent an end to the protectionist regime of the past, which in practice meant that the consumer was never king.

Small family-run retail outlets have been closing down in increasing numbers during the past few years, as the number of supermarkets and hypermarkets has mushroomed, particularly in the suburbs of big cities. The government claims that the freedom to open a small shop selling absolutely anything and to stay open all day, every day, should stimulate employment.

In practice, the new rules may not be good news for Italian shopworkers. They may end up working much longer hours for not much higher wages.