The new rules for the food voucher and meal voucher system come into force this Tuesday (10). In November last year, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed decree amending the Worker Food Program (PAT) with the aim of increasing transparency, competition and integrity in the sector.
Now, the discount rate (MDR) charged to supermarkets and restaurants by operators cannot exceed 3.6%. The interchange fee is capped at 2%, and any additional charges are prohibited.
Furthermore, the money must be transferred to establishments within 15 calendar days after the transaction. Until then, restaurants and similar companies received the amounts 30 days after transactions.
With the signing of the decree, the protection rules were already in force, with the prohibition of abusive commercial practices, such as discounts, discounts, indirect benefits, deadlines incompatible with prepaid transfers and financial advantages unrelated to food.
The new PAT regulations has already been questioned in court by the largest food and meal voucher companies in the country, which obtained injunctions suspending inspection or application of punishments. According to the Ministry of Labor and Employment (MTE), “for now, they are protected from sanctions for non-compliance with the rules on rates and deadlines, but they are not exempt from the other obligations of the decree and PAT”.
“It is essential that all companies adjust their operations to comply with the new regulations, including those that have an injunction.
The injunctions do not suspend the validity of the decree as a whole, nor do they extend its effects to other companies. The decree is in full force and must be fully complied with. The obligation to comply with the new rules, such as the rate ceiling and settlement deadlines, is immediate for the entire market, according to the ministry.
The changes to the program benefit more than 22 million workers, who will have greater freedom of choice and better acceptance of cards. The decree also brings balance to companies and establishmentsensuring that resources are used exclusively for food.
Created in 1976, PAT is the MTE’s oldest public policy and will complete 50 years in 2026. The program has 327 thousand registered companies and reaches 22.1 million workers across the country.
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Upcoming changes
Another change comes into force from May 10th, with the transition from the current system, in which the food voucher or meal voucher card can only be used in establishments accredited by a single operator.for a new arrangement, in which the benefit can be accepted in different machines and establishments, regardless of the issuing company or brand.
In November, 360 days after the signing of the decree, full interoperability of the system is expected, when any PAT card must be accepted at any payment machine in Brazil.
