MAINZ. Germany. Aug 7: Unions representing retail and white-collar workers in a western German state sealed a new wage and benefit pact with employers Tuesday, setting the state for longer shopping hours nationwide, reports AP.

After weeks of bargaining accompanied by limited strikes by retail workers in several states, negotiators for 125.000 employees in Rhineland-Palatinate became the first to agree on how to implement the new store hours law taking effect November I.

Parliament loosened the 40-yea»-old law last month, despite bitter opposition from unions for Germany's three million retail employees. Chancellor Helmut Kohl pushed for the change as part of efforts to boost the flagging economy.