The national government sent the final text of the labor reform to Congress, confirming the possibility of incorporation “free social benefits”apart from that Salary; The topic is presented centrally Debate that will begin in the coming days.
Based on the flexibility of working conditions and a Advantage combination For employers, the ruling party aims to increase formality rates to achieve better economic outcomes in 2026.
According to Article 31 of Chapter IV on ““Workers’ Compensation” that will try to replace 103 bis of law 20,744, which nnew legislation enables the social benefits that it calls “those benefits of statutory social security nature that are non-remunerative, non-monetary, non-cumulative or replaceable by money and which the employer voluntarily grants to the employee directly or through third parties with the aim of improving the quality of life of the worker and/or his dependent family group; Therefore, these benefits are not benefits in kind.”
Although this advantage was previously associated with the basket tickets that came onto the market in the 90s, the providers that can offer these services in Argentina make the difference. Basically: The development of technology led to the “Menu”.
This electronic tool is positioned as a strategic element to try to solve a complex equation: how “improve the well-being of workers and the competitiveness of companies without causing macroeconomic distortions or excessive increases in direct hiring costs”They explained of Edenred.
The proposal is not just about that Update daily dynamics in offices and factories which do not have a dining room, but rather aim to bring the country up to the country’s standards Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
“The OECD believes that social vouchers, including vouchers and food cards, are very effective tools promote social integration and local development when they are aimed at clearly defined objectives, such as ensuring access to sufficient food, and when their use is limited to eligible goods and services,” he explained. Marcelo ScaglioneDirector of the International Center for the Convergence of Latin America with the OECD.
“In practice, this means using instruments that are not free money but.” regulated, accountable mechanisms that direct and strengthen spending towards socially desirable purposes formal economy“added the executive who served as Undersecretary of State in charge of Argentina’s accession process to the international organization between 2016 and 2019.
However, the project walks a fine line between innovation and remembering past experiences that ended in justice. Is the menu a Protection against inflation and informalityor is it a back door to the Precarity of acquired rights?
Digital and traceable benefits
Unlike the old paper coupons that circulated in the 90s, today’s proposed menu is one High-tech device. It operates according to the same security standards as the international banking system: it is electronic, personal and completely traceable.
According to the guidelines of the reform Every transaction is recorded in real time and validated only in properly authorized catering and food establishments. “This means that the service is used for its intended purpose and not for a meal with friends on the weekend“, he emphasized Barbara GranatelliInstitutional Affairs Advisor at Edenred.
“The aim is to ensure that the worker has access to sufficient food during their working day,” he added, explaining that this creates problems better working conditions and productivity. Since it is a benefit that cannot be exchanged for cash or used for anything other than food, the possibility of undermining the system is eliminated.
From the perspective of companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the menu appears to be a “conditions equalizer”.
Many smaller businesses do not have the physical infrastructure to set up a dining room on their premises. With this tool you can offer a Welfare standard identical to that of a large corporation, said Granatelli.
In addition, he recommended that the benefit should not be a percentage of salary, but a fixed amount for all employees, but that “the employees with the best conditions are the ones who receive the greatest benefits.”
In his experience, “this system democratizes access to lunch during work hourseven when thinking about those working remotely or in hybrid modalities.”
Virtuous circle
The initiative is in line with one of the central axes of the proposed government Increasing work formality, which is crucial for the recovery of the economy in 2026, because today formal employment represents a “minimal share” compared to more than 40% of undeclared work.
In this sense, those who promote it emphasize that the menu functions as one Coercive “money laundering” agent: For a restaurant or food establishment to bill in this way, it must be registered and issue an appropriate invoice.
According to Edenred, for every 20 employees who receive this benefit, a new direct job is created in the catering industry. and the entire production chain of the industry is activated indirectly.
“Every link in this chain pays taxes and thus expands the state’s tax base,” emphasized Granatelli.
The international experience in countries where the system is consolidated reflects this for every weight (or euros) invested in the profit, the economy recovers in between 1.8 and 2.9 times this value through formalized economic activity.
According to a 2023 study by the OECD program For economic and employment development at the local level, it was found that “food vouchers are widely used in countries such as….” Brazil, Belgium and Francewhere they can only be used in registered companies and operate under certain legal and tax frameworks,” Scaglione added.
“In many of these cases, food stamps receive one preferential tax treatment Precisely because they are recognized as instruments with a social purpose and the ability to promote the formalization of employment and stimulate the local economy,” he said.
cases in the world
In BrazilThe Worker Food Program (PAT), which has been in effect since 1976, is considered a global success story. It has contributed to the creation of more than 670,000 direct jobs and increased national productivity levels.
In EuropeIn countries such as France, Belgium and Italy, “restaurant cards” or “Buoni Pasto” are an essential part of their work culture, with clear tax restrictions and an acceptance rate of over 90% among employees.
In MexicoFor example, “food vouchers” are an estimated benefit ranging from 4% to 12% of monthly income that allow companies to partially deduct expenses and allow employees to improve their basic consumption skills without affecting their take-home pay through tax withholdings.
The shadow of the past
Despite the technological advantages and global examples, the project arouses suspicion in Argentina. The ghost of the 1989 “basket tickets” still hangs over the debate. Back then, the system was born in the midst of hyperinflation and eventually evolved into one Form of payment that avoids pension contributions, bonuses and allowances.
This distortion led to Law 26,341 prohibiting their use in 2007 and the Supreme Court ruling in 2009 that these vouchers were part of salary due to their remunerative nature.
Trade unions fear that the label “gratuitous benefits” hides a new salary segmentation.
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