Belgian employers increase meal voucher values for over half of workers

Employers in Belgium have increased the value of meal vouchers for more than half of the workforce in 2026.

The HR service provider SD Worx analyzed anonymized salary data from 37,000 private sector employers and over one million workers to track these changes. Since the beginning of the year, companies have been permitted to raise the value of meal vouchers up to a maximum of 10 euros per check.

This change follows a period in 2025 where over 70% of workers received vouchers, with 58% of those recipients getting the previous maximum of 8 euros. The impact of the increase varies by industry. In airport ground handling, nearly 100% of workers now receive 10 euros instead of the previous 8 euros. In the chemical industry, 77% of workers receive the new maximum.

However, in the auxiliary commission for employees (CP 200), where there is no sector-wide obligation, only 22% of recipients receive the 10 euro maximum. In that specific group, 30% saw a 2 euro increase while 35% received at least a 1 euro increase.