There is news in the modernization of the PAT (Worker's Food Program). A new decree (11.678/2023), published by the federal government on August 30, establishes that both the portability of the balance of food and meal vouchers such as interoperability of payment methods are in force.
It is a first step after MP 1178, which postponed the deadline for regulation to take place, has expired. Now, for portability and interoperability to come into operation, some rules still need to be established.
The new decree specifies that it will be up to the Ministry of Labor and Employment and the National Monetary Council (CMN) to regulate these rules.
Remembering: PAT was created in 1976 so that companies could offer adequate food to workers. The Program was changed with a new law (14.442), approved in September 2022, and which brought changes such as:
- End of the rebate (discount given by food and meal voucher operators to companies that join the program);
- Encouragement to open arrangement (which increases the voucher acceptance network);
- Portability of food and meal vouchers;
- Interoperability (the same machine can accept vouchers from different operators).
What changes?
With portability, workers will be able to choose the operator of the food and meal vouchers they want and transfer the credit for the vouchers to them, free of charge (as is already the case with their cell phone number or salary account).
Interoperability allows the same machine to accept all benefit cards, not just those from one brand. When it comes into force, workers will have access to a larger network of establishments.
On the other hand, restaurants and markets will accept several brands from a single accreditor and will be able to increase their clientele.
