Meal voucher (VR) and food voucher (VA) cards will have changes from November 7th. The main one is the acceptance of cards from different operators on any machine enabled to process this type of payment.
The transition began in May and will last until November, one year after the signing of the decree that updated the Workers' Food Program (PAT).
In practice, the measure aims to expand the options for using benefits in restaurants, supermarkets and other establishments that work with food. Cards from companies such as Alelo, Ticket, VR Benefícios, Pluxee, Flash and Swile are among those covered by the changes, according to the PAT framework.
The new rules also establish limits on fees charged to commercial establishments and reduce the period for transferring sales amounts. The government's objective is to stimulate competition in the sector and facilitate the acceptance of benefits by commerce.
Despite the expected implementation in November, the change faces operational challenges. The Brazilian Association of Bars and Restaurants (Abrasel) claims that the companies' systems are not yet fully integrated and points out difficulties for the measure to operate within the expected deadline. Furthermore, part of the rules is subject to legal challenges by operators in the sector.
What changes?
From November 7th, interoperability between meal voucher and food voucher cards is expected to come into full force.
This means that cards from different operators must work on any machine enabled to receive this type of payment, without depending on specific contracts or equipment for each brand.
The change does not oblige all establishments to accept the benefits. The rule applies to businesses authorized to process these transactions.
Where to use?
The proposal is to expand the card acceptance network. Thus, the worker will be able to use the benefit in different establishments that accept the corresponding modality, regardless of the operator responsible for the card.
Acceptance will depend on the establishment's qualification and the functioning of the integration between payment systems.
Does the value increase?
No. The new rules do not determine an automatic increase or reduction in the value of meal vouchers or food vouchers paid by companies to employees.
The resources continue to be allocated exclusively to food. The meal voucher is used to purchase ready-made meals, while the food voucher is used to purchase food.
The main change for the worker is the expansion of the possibilities for using the benefit.
Which rules are already valid?
In addition to interoperability, PAT regulations established limits on the fees charged to establishments and reduced the period for transferring sales amounts.
The main measures are:
Maximum rate of 3.6%: limit on the discount rate charged to establishments in transactions with benefits linked to PAT;
Interchange fee of up to 2%: ceiling for charges related to operations between system participants;
Transfer within 15 calendar days: maximum period for establishments to receive sales amounts.
Before the change, merchants complained about high fees and receipt times that could exceed 30 days.
Do all benefits apply?
Not necessarily. The rules described apply to benefits linked to the PAT, created in 1976.
There is a difference between the benefits granted under the PAT and the food allowance provided for in labor legislation. According to Abrasel, this distinction has caused difficulties in identifying transactions and in the financial reconciliation of establishments.
The entity states that some companies would have migrated operations to food aid after the regulation, a modality that is not subject to the same rate limits and deadlines provided for PAT.
Is the change guaranteed?
Implementation is scheduled for November, but faces operational obstacles. Abrasel states that the companies responsible for the cards and the acquirers still need to integrate their systems to allow interoperability to fully function.
According to the association, one of the problems involves the specific channel used to process voucher transactions, which is not yet fully functioning.
The entity also states that the lack of integration can make it difficult to identify the types of benefits used by consumers and the financial control of establishments.
What are the punishments?
Failure to comply with the rules applicable to PAT may result in administrative and financial sanctions.
Among the penalties foreseen are:
Fines;
Assessments;
De-accreditation of the program;
Collection of previously used tax benefits, when applicable.
The consequences depend on the infraction identified and can affect operators, companies participating in the program and commercial establishments.
What do operators say?
Companies in the sector are questioning in court points of the decree that regulated the changes in the PAT. Among the arguments presented are the challenge of tariff limits and the imposition of structural changes through decree.
Some operators obtained provisional decisions that suspended part of the demands, but the injunctions were later overturned, according to information gathered in the reference material.
The Brazilian Association of Employee Benefit Companies (ABBT) also expressed concern about the open arrangement model. The entity argues that expanding card acceptance could make control and inspection of accredited establishments more difficult.
What's missing?
The implementation of interoperability depends on the integration of the systems of benefit operators and the companies responsible for the machines.
Although the rule is expected to come into full force in November, Abrasel's assessment is that there are still technical difficulties in ensuring operation across the entire network. For workers, the expectation is to expand the options for using cards, but effective availability will depend on the completion of this integration.
