Meal vouchers, here's what changes from 1 September for companies and workers

As of 1 September, the fees charged to businesses for accepting meal vouchers will not be allowed to exceed 5 per cent of the nominal value. This is a long-awaited measure that, according to Fiepet Confesercenti, represents a turning point for bars, restaurants, and public establishments, which have been the most penalised so far by disproportionate and hardly sustainable charges. "The ceiling on the commissions applied to businesses for accepting meal vouchers will finally come into effect, and they will no longer be able to exceed 5% of the nominal value of the ticket," was the announcement made by Giancarlo Banchieri, national president of Fiepet Confesercenti, the association representing restaurateurs, barmen, and other public businesses that are members of the Confederation. "This is an important result, which acknowledges one of the main requests made by our association for some time: to put an end to a system that was unloading disproportionate and unsustainable burdens on shopkeepers.

According to Fiepet, the reduction in fees will also have positive effects for consumers, because it will encourage a wider acceptance of meal vouchers by businesses, fuelling a virtuous circle throughout the supply chain. "Less costs for businesses means more willingness to accept vouchers, more competition and more benefits for customers," explained Banchieri. Despite the importance of the measure, Fiepet issues a warning to the institutions: beware of possible countermoves by companies issuing meal vouchers. "We cannot allow the savings obtained to be nullified by unilateral changes to contracts, such as lengthening payment times," the president stressed. "Careful monitoring is needed to ensure that the benefits are not just theoretical."

For bars, restaurants and public houses this is a real breath of fresh air, especially at a time when margins continue to shrink. According to our estimates, entrepreneurs will be able to save a total of up to EUR 400 million per year thanks to this measure. "Now, however, it is necessary to ensure that the issuing companies do not unilaterally intervene in the existing agreements, inserting worsening conditions on other aspects, such as extending payment times. Apart from this, the lowering of operating costs for merchants will also be an advantage for consumers, encouraging wider acceptance of meal vouchers and triggering a virtuous circle that can strengthen the entire supply chain". "It is therefore the right time," Banchieri concludes, "to open a reflection on the possibility of raising the tax exemption ceiling to EUR 10 already with the next Budget law: an intervention that would make vouchers more useful and convenient for everyone, consumers and businesses alike.