JC 118 / 220 — Food industry — Food industry: your meal vouchers are changing in 2026
Joint committee 118 introduces measures to strengthen workers' purchasing power through meal vouchers. Companies already granting meal vouchers must increase the employer contribution by +€1. Those not yet providing vouchers must introduce an equivalent benefit. Act before July 2026 to avoid the automatic €240 per year compensation.
Your challenges
Sound familiar?
Strict deadlines to meet?
The 15 February 2026 and 1 July 2026 deadlines require rapid planning to avoid the automatic application of the €240 net per year financial compensation.
Meal vouchers or equivalent benefit: which choice to make?
Companies not yet granting meal vouchers must quickly determine the chosen solution. The choice between meal vouchers and an equivalent benefit has a direct fiscal and administrative impact.
Workers and employees: how to harmonise?
Many food industry companies employ both workers (JC 118) and employees (JC 220). As sectoral agreements are negotiated separately, internal harmonisation of benefits is recommended to avoid differences in treatment.
Key measures
What applies to your sector
Mandatory increase of the employer contribution
In companies already granting meal vouchers on 1 October 2025, the employer contribution increases by +€1 per meal voucher from 1 January 2026.
Possibility of a more favourable company CBA
In companies with a trade union delegation, a company CBA can provide more favourable meal voucher terms, to be concluded by 15 February 2026 at the latest.
Introduction of an equivalent benefit
Companies not granting meal vouchers on 1 October 2025 must introduce an equivalent benefit: through a company CBA before 15 February 2026 (with union delegation) or by 1 July 2026 at the latest (without union delegation).
€240/year compensation if not applied
If no measure is introduced before 1 July 2026, a recurring net benefit of €240 per year (prorated based on days worked per week) is due for the reference period from 1 January to 31 December.
Timeline
Key dates to remember
+€1 increase for existing companies
Companies already granting meal vouchers on 1 October 2025 must increase the employer contribution by +€1.
Company CBA deadline
Deadline to conclude a company CBA providing more favourable terms or introducing an equivalent benefit (companies with union delegation).
Mandatory compliance
Without introduction of an equivalent benefit by this date (companies without union delegation), the €240 net per year compensation applies automatically.
Sectoral federation: Fevia
Turn this obligation into a competitive advantage
The increase or introduction of meal vouchers strengthens workers' purchasing power while optimising remuneration through an attractive tax benefit. This measure can be integrated into a broader reflection on extra-legal benefits, harmonising conditions between workers and employees to simplify administrative management and internal communication.
Our approach
The Monizze answer: manage, simplify, optimise
Tailored evaluation
- Analysis of your industry sector, your headcount and the appropriate budget scenario
- Objective assessment of the real impact in consultation with your social secretariat
- Comparison of your options to choose the best strategy
Centralised digital management
- Simplified management of meal vouchers and eco-vouchers
- Integration of mobility solutions and mobility budget
- Global overview via RewardFlex — one platform, one management interface
- Automated compliance with sectoral obligations
Enhanced employee experience
- Real-time view of your balance and benefits
- Simplified activation of the Monizze card
- Full visibility over the complete salary package
Next steps
3 steps to comply with JC 118 / 220
Verify the obligations of your JC 118 / 220
Amounts, deadlines, exceptions: every detail matters.
Estimate the cost for your team size
Compare scenarios and identify the best option.
Plan your 2026 benefits
Meal vouchers, mobility, flexibility: a coherent package.
Take action
Which situation is yours?
Request your personalized offer
Discover how sectoral agreements impact your budget.
Increase your meal vouchers to €10
The new cap applies — take action now.
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FAQ
Frequently asked questions about sectoral agreements
By how much must meal vouchers increase in the food industry in 2026?
By how much must meal vouchers increase in the food industry in 2026?
What happens if my company does not yet grant meal vouchers?
What happens if my company does not yet grant meal vouchers?
How to harmonise meal vouchers between workers (JC 118) and employees (JC 220)?
How to harmonise meal vouchers between workers (JC 118) and employees (JC 220)?
Is the €10 meal voucher mandatory for all companies?
Is the €10 meal voucher mandatory for all companies?
Can meal vouchers be optimised without increasing the overall cost for the employer?
Can meal vouchers be optimised without increasing the overall cost for the employer?
My industry sector is not listed, what should I do?
My industry sector is not listed, what should I do?
Other sectors
Explore other industry sectors
JC 109 / 215 — Clothing and garment industry
Sectoral meal voucher increase of +€1.25 per day worked
ExploreJC 110 — Textile maintenance
Sectoral meal voucher increase of +€1 with possibility of +€2 at company level
ExploreJC 116 / 207 — Chemical industry
+€2 or introduction at €3.09 from April 2026, with exceptions
ExploreJC 119 — Food commerce
Meal voucher increase of €1.50 for companies with more than 20 workers
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