Great news for everyone who likes to spice up their lunch: starting January 1, 2026, meal vouchers are officially going up. After simmering on the back burner for months, the decision is final and the results look delicious. Here is exactly what’s on the menu. 🍝
On the BDW Government’s menu 🍛
The "supernote" of the BDW I government was clear from the start: the purchasing power of the working Belgian must increase, and meal vouchers were served up as a key ingredient.
The plan? To implement two €2 increases to the maximum amount of meal vouchers during this legislature:
- First, from €8 to €10 per day worked.
- Later, to €12 per day worked.
Additionally, the government wants to expand how they can be spent. Fewer restrictions, more freedom. As if you can finally pick the dessert as well as the main course. In exchange, other vouchers like eco-vouchers and culture vouchers would disappear. For now, however, that remains a matter of "reading the tea leaves."
What’s on your plate from 2026 on? 🍽️
First, a quick update: for a long time, it was uncertain whether the necessary legislation would be passed in time. That uncertainty was cleared off the table with the Law of December 12, 2025, on various tax provisions.
From January 1, 2026, the maximum value of a meal voucher can rise to €10 per day worked.
The breakdown is as follows:
- €8.91 employer contribution
- €1.09 mandatory employee contribution
This isn't a "bland" deal for employers either: the tax deductibility increases alongside it, from €2 to €4 (for a €10 voucher). More net value without burning through the budget.
Important detail: This increase isn’t served automatically. As an employer, you must implement it yourself:
- Via a Collective Labor Agreement (CAO/CBA), or
- Via an addendum to the individual employment contract.
It all depends on your Joint Committee (Paritair Comité). Some sectors (like JC 200) do not regulate meal vouchers, giving employers the freedom to organize them via company-level agreements. Other sectors (like JC 118 and 220 in the food industry) have already decided on a mandatory, automatic €1 increase for companies in those sectors.
The garnish 🍳
Something is simmering in the Payflip kitchen! It’s no secret that meal vouchers are the most important fringe benefit in Belgium, accounting for over 3 billion transactions. We couldn't let the 2026 boost pass us by. What exactly is Payflip up to? It’s a secret for now, but count on more flavor, lower food costs, and a digital experience that leaves a lasting impression. Stay tuned!
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