Brazil Orders Full Interoperability for Worker Meal Cards by Nov. 7

Overview

• The Ministry of Labour set a hard deadline of Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, for full interoperability of the Programa de Alimentação do Trabalhador and said inspectors will take complaints about refused eligible cards.
• Large operators did not complete a required May step to open processing arrangements, leaving technical links between card issuers and payment terminals unfinished and hampering universal acceptance.
• Independent surveys and industry groups report average fees paid by restaurants rose to 6.18% in 2026, well above the 3.6% cap the government imposed in February.
• Some major issuers have secured court orders that temporarily suspend sanctions and inspections for parts of the market, creating legal uncertainty over enforcement of fee limits and deadlines.
• Market entrants that already process benefits and enable mobile acceptance could lower costs if networks open, but final savings will depend on total processing charges such as fees for receivables anticipation.