Organizations from the restaurant, supermarket and welfare sectors have spoken out about changes to the Workers’ Food Program (PAT), established by a decree signed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) this Tuesday (11/11). This document changes the rules for the operation of Meal Voucher (VA) and Meal Voucher (VR) benefits.
In addition to shortening the period for transferring sales proceeds to business establishments, the new measures include setting an upper limit on the fees levied on member stores for sales from benefits. Interoperability, a mechanism that allows one card machine to pass all brands, will also be implemented.
For the American Restaurant Association (ANR), the move provides an important update to the market and could lead to lower prices for consumers.
“Currently, the fees and long collection periods charged by carriers are the main factors driving up business costs and squeezing industry profits, especially among small and medium-sized businesses that make up the majority of businesses in the country,” said ANR President Eric Momo.
“A reduction in the rate to 3.6% and receipt within 15 days would provide substantial financial relief to restaurants, allowing them to reduce cost transfers and keep prices more affordable for consumers. This new scenario is likely to open up this possibility for many restaurants that currently do not accept meal vouchers,” he added.
what will change
- Interoperability gives employees the freedom to use their cards on any machine, regardless of brand. The new rules are expected to take effect within 360 days.
- The Decree also reduces the period for transferring sales proceeds to a facility to a maximum of 15 calendar days after the transaction. This rule will go into effect in 90 days.
- The upper limit for transactions in VR and VA was set at 3.6%. Interchange fees were also capped at 2% and surcharges were prohibited.
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The Brazilian Chamber of Workers’ Welfare (CBBT) believes that the changes will “facilitate wider acceptance of vouchers and give workers more power to choose the restaurants and supermarkets where they use their benefits.”
“For CBBT, this initiative follows developments to correct distortions in the PAT (Workers’ Food Programme) and is an important step to ensure fair competition and the strengthening of public policies favorable to Brazilian workers,” the group said.
iFood celebrates change
iFood celebrated the signing of the decree and stressed that the reduction in fees charged by companies will be beneficial for both workers and traders.
“The company also believes that the definition of open operations for large-scale arrangements and interoperability for small ones is correct. In practice, this will significantly expand the benefits acceptance network, strengthen local economies and significantly expand dining options by allowing workers to use their vouchers at any time at the corner bakery, neighborhood kilometer restaurant, snack bar near work, or grocery store near home,” the company emphasized in the note.
Risk of judicialization
Meanwhile, the Brazilian Bar and Restaurant Association (Abrasel) expressed concern about the changes to the PAT promoted by the government. The group said the move would have a “negative impact” on the industry and could lead to the legalization of new rules.
“We have always opposed price fixing of any kind. There were alternatives that could have lowered interest rates further and stimulated competition in a healthy way. The government could have listened more to the market and chosen a solution that truly balanced the interests of all involved, and avoided the almost certain judicialization that would harm businesses, governments and workers,” points out Paulo Solmucci, Executive President of Abracell.
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