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Government Redefines Meal Voucher Rules to Reduce Abuse, Limit Fees, Accelerate Transfers, and Strengthen Smaller Establishments
The announcement of the new meal voucher decree was formalized on November 11, 2025.
The measure reignited the national debate about the balance between benefits operators and small establishments.
The decree also aims to modernize the Workers’ Food Program (PAT), created more than five decades ago.
According to Luiz Marinho, the government decided to act to prevent the preservation of abusive profits in the production chain.
The minister explained the decision after leaving the Palácio da Alvorada.
What Changes with the New Decree
The decree was signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The new rule establishes technical limits for fees charged by operators.
The ceiling for the service fee will be 3.6%, according to the official text.
The interchange fee will be limited to 2%, according to the decree.
The transfer period to establishments will be reduced from 30 to 15 days.
This reduction was deemed essential by sectors that rely on constant cash flow.
Companies will have 90 days to fully adjust to the new rules.
The changes respond to complaints presented since 2023 by food entities.
Why the Government Decided to Intervene
The PAT emerged in the 1970s, aiming to stimulate adequate food for workers.
However, the program began to receive constant criticism from establishments accepting vouchers.
According to Marinho, the intermediation “inappropriately appropriated the sector”, reinforcing the need for a review.
Additionally, suppliers incurred high costs while waiting for delayed transfers.
The minister stated that the modernization results from two years of technical discussions, involving operators and representatives from the production chain.
Large companies defended old models, but the government concluded that these rules harmed small and medium businesses.
Thus, the change became a national priority.
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Debate Among Operators, Establishments, and Experts
The changes divided opinions, which was expected.
Large operators claimed that technical limits could reduce investments in the sector.
On the other hand, small businesses argued that the measure corrects historical imbalances.
The government denied any attempt at price regulation, and Marinho reiterated this position several times.
According to him, the new rules “create conditions to increase competition”, which reduces end prices.
Moreover, experts assert that greater competition improves the PAT environment.
They advocate for constant technical supervision and transparency in financial intermediation processes.
Processing, Adaptation, and Next Steps
The decree is already in effect throughout the country, marking the beginning of a sensitive period for the sector.
The 90-day period will be crucial to assess the initial effects of the changes.
Operators need to adjust contracts and internal systems during the transition.
Furthermore, establishments hope to quickly feel the impacts of the reduced transfer period.
Ministry of Labor technicians are monitoring the results and evaluating possible adjustments for 2026.
The government asserts that the central goal is to ensure adequate food for workers, strengthening small businesses.
Thus, the decree redesigns an important part of the meal voucher ecosystem in Brazil.
The big question now is whether the market will deliver the promised benefits to workers and small establishments.
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