Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
4 min of reading 
0 comments 
Workers Now Have New Rules for the Vouchers, with Fee Limits, Interoperability Between Brands, and Shorter Disbursement Deadlines in a System that Moves Billions and Affects Millions of Formal Employees.
The decree that updates the rules of the Worker’s Food Program (PAT) and food assistance is expected to generate an average annual gain of approximately R$ 225 per worker, according to estimates from the Secretary of Economic Reforms of the Ministry of Finance.
The government also estimates that the set of measures may result in a savings of about R$ 8 billion per year for beneficiaries.
The regulation, published in November, establishes new rules for food and meal voucher cards, including the definition of a cap of 3.6% for the fees charged by benefit operators to commercial establishments.
-
Mercado Livre “opens the vault” and announces a record investment of R$ 57 billion in Brazil in 2026, a value 50% higher than the previous year, with an expansion plan that includes 14 new logistics centers, totaling 42 units in the country and hiring an additional 10,000 employees.
-
How investment in technology can revolutionize the national economy and enhance industrial gains, according to a study that highlights the direct impact on productivity, innovation, and wealth retention within Brazil.
-
The largest food company on the planet, JBS, has just opened a 4,000 square meter laboratory in Florianópolis to develop customized proteins that modulate muscle mass gain, immune response, and metabolic performance.
-
After nearly 30 bids and competition among industry giants, a Spanish company purchases one of the largest airports in Brazil for almost R$ 3 billion and takes over the management of Galeão in a concession that will last until 2039.
A new deadline of 15 calendar days for the transfer of transaction values to merchants has also been established.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the calculation of savings mainly considers the reduction of margins charged by card issuing companies, which, according to the ministry, are expected to pass on some of these lower costs to establishments.
Representatives from the food sector say that current fees raise operational costs and, consequently, pressure meal and food prices.
Rules of the PAT and Regulatory Impact
The text of the decree also prohibits discounts, deductions, and financial advantages that are not directly related to the food of workers.
The ministry states that the measures aim to provide greater transparency to the market and ensure that the benefits associated with the PAT remain linked to the original purpose of the program, which is to supplement the food of employees.
The government emphasizes that the classification of vouchers under the PAT seeks to prevent practices that, according to the Ministry of Finance, had been creating contractual distortions and reducing the amount actually used by workers to purchase food.
Fees and Effects for Establishments
According to data presented by the government, the average fee currently charged to establishments in transactions with meal vouchers is almost 6%, higher than the percentage observed in payments made by credit or debit card.
With the new cap of 3.6%, finance technicians state that the sector should operate with lower costs, which could increase competitiveness among brands and reduce barriers for small and medium-sized merchants.
Payment experts claim that the reduction of fees tends to shift the dynamics of the sector, historically concentrated among few operators, allowing the entry of new companies interested in offering corporate benefits.
The decree also establishes a maximum interchange fee of 2%, which compensates for the operation between brands and issuing institutions.
Disbursement Deadlines and Operation of the Cards
The maximum deadline of 15 days for disbursement to establishments replaces the usual practice of payments made within 30 days.
According to the government, the change aims to provide greater financial predictability to commerce, especially for bars, restaurants, and bakeries.
A quicker financial settlement is pointed out by industry entities as a recurring demand.
According to representatives of these segments, the longer reception time compared to conventional electronic payments impacts cash flow, especially in businesses that operate on tight margins.
Interoperability Between Brands and Expansion of Acceptance
Another important change is the requirement for full interoperability between card brands.
Within 360 days, any card from the program must work on any compatible machine.
The government claims that this measure expands the freedom of choice for both companies that contract the benefits and the establishments that accept them.
Payment market experts believe that interoperability is likely to reduce the need for multiple credentialing contracts, which can facilitate the use of benefits at more points of sale.
Opening of Arrangements and Increasing Competition
For systems with more than 500,000 workers, the decree stipulates that payment arrangements be opened within 180 days.
This means that different companies will be able to issue cards and credential establishments under the same rules set by the brand.
According to analysts consulted by the government during internal discussions, the opening is likely to stimulate competition and reduce operational costs along the chain.
Seja o primeiro a reagir!