Brazil mandates interoperability for meal and food voucher cards

The Brazilian Ministry of Labour and Employment is enforcing a new rule starting this Saturday that requires different meal and food voucher brands to be accepted at the same payment terminals.

This move ends the exclusivity that previously allowed benefit companies to restrict where their specific cards could be used. The goal is to allow workers to use their vouchers at a wider range of establishments, particularly in rural areas and smaller towns where card networks were previously limited.

The government is refusing to extend the deadline for this transition despite pushback from industry groups. The ABBT and Abipag claim that the technical systems for integration are not yet ready, while the Fhoresp has criticized the lack of time for adaptation. However, a judge recently rejected a request from the company Alelo to suspend the rules or obtain an additional 30 month extension to adjust its payment arrangements.

The Ministry of Labour maintains that the responsibility for technical implementation lies with the payment companies rather than the government. The change is part of a broader update to the Worker's Food Program (PAT). These reforms include caps on transaction fees, faster payment processing for merchants, and a ban on annual fees. The Ministry of Finance estimates these changes will save workers an average of R$ 225 per year.

Companies that fail to comply face fines ranging from R$ 5,000 to R$ 50,000 and may lose their tax incentives or registration within the program.