A decision will be taken “next week” on a possible new extension of this exceptional device, indicates Bercy. The measure is due to end on February 28.
After having been extended twice already, will the ceiling for meal vouchers at 38 euros per day – instead of 19 euros – be extended again? Put in place in June 2020 to support the activity of restaurateurs, hit hard by the Covid-19 crisis, the measure must end on February 28. Consultations with players in the sector are underway to decide whether or not to maintain it for a few more months, the Ministry of the Economy informs us. “The decision will be made next week“, we say to the cabinet of Bruno Le Maire. If Bercy decides to agree with the majority opinion of the restaurant voucher ecosystem, everything suggests that we are heading towards a new temporary maintenance of the ceiling at 38 euros per day.
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Unsurprisingly, restaurateurs, the only ones today to benefit from this doubled ceiling – which remains at 19 euros in supermarkets – are the most vocal on the subject. “Our sector has not regained the turnover of 2019, before the pandemic. We are still suffering the repercussions of the Covid crisis, through the vaccination pass in our establishments. Any measure that increases attendance is welcome.“, explains Franck Delvau, general co-president of Umih Paris Île-de-France, who adds that “people still have large stocks of securities to sell“. His professional union has asked the ministry for an extension of the ceiling until the end of the year.
Six out of ten restaurateurs in favor of the extension
At the GNI (National Group of Independents), we would be satisfied with maintaining the doubled ceiling until the end of June. But then on condition offlatten the ceiling system“, declares Romain Vidal, secretary general of the GNI Paris Ile-de-France. His organization campaigns for the conservation of a “double capping“, in order to “promote the purchasing power of the French“: one at 19 euros, for supermarkets in particular, and another “higher», for restaurants or bakeries. “We must not deviate from the social purpose of the meal voucher, which is used to eat, not to shop», slice Romain Vidal.
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Despite everything, this position does not seem to be shared by all restaurateurs. A survey carried out by Viavoice for Worklife, published Thursday, shows that they are 6 out of 10 (60%) to wish an extension of this measure. “The reception remains mixed since 4 out of 10 restaurateurs still do not want this system to last“Notes Worklife, one of the issuers of meal vouchers on the market, in a press release. The fault of commissions charged by issuers deemed too high by 97% of the approximately 1,000 restaurateurs surveyed. Thus, three quarters (77%) believe that payment by meal vouchers is not profitable for them.
“We are for maintaining the ceiling at 38 euros, but not only. We also call for the regulation of commissions so that support for restaurateurs is real. »
Benjamin Suchar, founder of Worklife
If this is not the subject of the current consultations with Bercy, Romain Vidal, of the GNI, recalls that “many professional confederations are calling for the introduction of a ceiling on commissions“. They “keep increasing» and rise today «between 4 and 6% excluding taxes“Says the one who is also the representative of restaurateurs at the National Commission for Restaurant Vouchers (CNTR) – whose official position is to maintain the ceiling at 38 euros for several more months. Worklife, whose business model is not based on commissions – the company does not charge any – supports the double struggle of restaurateurs. “We are for maintaining the ceiling at 38 euros, but not only. We also call for the regulation of commissions so that support for restaurateurs is realsays company founder Benjamin Suchar.
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Fear of losing the tax exemption
At UpDéjeuner, another restaurant voucher issuer, we also support the extension of the doubled ceiling, “but with an adjustment“, specifies Julien Anglade, general manager of the Up group. The cooperative group wishes to end their use on weekends and public holidays, another exceptional provision put in place at the start of the health crisis. “We are very attached to the social purpose and the legal framework. The employee has titles for the days worked, so they must be used during the days worked“, justifies Julien Anglade, for whom there is however no subject on the commissions deducted.
It is also this importance given to the initial purpose of the restaurant voucher – to allow the employee to pay for his meal if he does not have a canteen or company restaurant – which motivates the counter-current position of the CFDT. The first trade union in France calls for “return to the classic system“, indicates its national secretary Luc Mathieu. The risk, otherwise, would be that the meal voucher is “then considered exclusively as a measure of purchasing power, which would endanger its tax and social status“. Because, in this case,there would be no reason for him not to be subject to social charges», develops Luc Mathieu.
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A fear shared by some issuers of securities, reports Benjamin Suchar, of Worklife. “They are afraid that if the ceiling increases durably, the tax exemption jumps.This concern is justified, according to Luc Mathieu. “Periodically, the tax administration re-examines the tax status of this type of tool», Recounts the representative of the CFDT. If employees obviously appreciate being able to take advantage of this doubled ceiling, beware of the possible backlash.
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