Lula is expected to sign a decree with new rules for meal vouchers and food vouchers next Tuesday.

BRASILIA - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) is expected to sign the regulations for the Worker's Food Program (PAT) next Tuesday, the 11th. This information was reported by Folha de S. Paulo and confirmed by Estadão/Broadcast . The signing is scheduled to take place at a ceremony at 4 PM on Tuesday at the Palácio do Planalto, with the president in attendance.

The regulation of the program is eagerly awaited by the food sector, which has held a series of meetings in recent months with the Ministers of Finance, Fernando Haddad , and of Labor and Employment, Luiz Marinho .

In September, Minister Luiz Marinho said that the text should include a cap on the discount rate (the so-called MDR, from the English Merchant Discount Rate ) and a shortening of the time for transferring payments to retailers in operations with food vouchers (VA) and meal vouchers (VR).

He stated that the impact of the regulation on food inflation will be minimal. "It will especially benefit small businesses, small restaurants. Zero impact on the worker."

The discussions involve the Brazilian Association of Employee Benefits Companies (ABBT), which represents traditional ticketing companies (such as Ticket, VR, and Alelo); the Brazilian Association of Bars and Restaurants (Abrasel), which represents commercial establishments; the Brazilian Association of Supermarkets (Abras), which brings together state supermarket associations; and the Brazilian Chamber of Employee Benefits (CBBT), which brings together technology companies already operating in the market (such as Caju, Flash, and Swile).

PAT

The PAT (Worker's Food Program) is a voluntary program that provides tax incentives to companies in exchange for offering food vouchers and meal vouchers to employees. In October 2024, the Ministry of Labor vetoed the use of PAT for benefits paid to employees not directly related to food, such as telemedicine and gym discounts.

According to data from the Ministry of Labor, the PAT (Worker's Food Program) currently serves more than 21.5 million Brazilian workers, of whom approximately 86% earn up to five minimum wages.

These workers receive the benefit through approximately 300,000 beneficiary companies enrolled in the program throughout Brazil. The annual business volume of the benefits market in the country is around R$ 150 billion.