Restaurant vouchers in the public service: what are the rules?

If your employer administration cannot provide you with a catering service near your workplace, it can award you restaurant vouchers to allow you to pay all or part of your meal expenses.

If your administration grants you restaurant vouchers, you are entitled to one meal voucher per meal included in your daily work schedule.

Restaurant vouchers are granted as you work at full or part-time and whether you are a civil servant (holder or trainee) or a contract worker.

The restaurant voucher is partially funded by your employer administration, which takes care of it enter 50% and 60% of its value.

Restaurant vouchers can be given to you in several formats:

• Paper tickets in the form of a checkbook usable until 31 December 2026
• Prepaid and rechargeable smart card (can be used in the same terminals as bank cards)
• Access to an application on your mobile phone.

When you have a card or application on your mobile phone, you can access the balance of your personal restaurant voucher account for free (e.g. by SMS).

Restaurant vouchers are personal. You're the only person who can use them.

Restaurant vouchers are not not usable on sundays and public holidays. However, there may be a decision to the contrary by your employer administration if you work on those days.

You can pay for all or part of your meal with your restaurant vouchers at the following establishments:

• Restaurants
• Some similar traders (delicatessens, caterers, bakeries, food distribution shops, etc.).
• Fruit and vegetable retailers.

The securities are valid to purchase directly consumable food preparations, optionally to be reheated or thawed (ready meals, prepared salads, sandwiches) and dairy products.

They can also be used to buy fruit and vegetables, whether or not directly edible.

Restaurants and merchants are not obliged to accept restaurant vouchers.

Each store chain sets its own list of products payable by restaurant voucher.

So there may be differences from one brand to another.

You can use your restaurant vouchers within the limit of €25 per day.

When you use a card or application on your smartphone, you will be charged the exact amount to pay.

If you use paper titles, the merchant has no right to give you change.

Restaurant vouchers can only be used in the department where you work and in neighboring departments.

Your employer administration may grant you valid titles outside these territorial limits if you make business trips.

Restaurant vouchers are usable during thecalendar year and in January and February of the following year.

Restaurant vouchers not used during this period may be exchanged for an equal number of restaurant vouchers valid for a new period free of charge. You must return them to your employer's administration at the latest during the 1^re fortnight of march.