Politics · France · 5 hrs ago
French lawmakers debate making grocery use of meal vouchers permanent
French lawmakers are debating a bill to make it permanently legal to use meal vouchers to buy groceries.
The debate began on Monday, October 12, 2026.
The grocery option has so far been allowed only as a temporary exception, renewed from year to year.
Many workers say the vouchers help with everyday food costs, while some use them to buy lunch to take to work.
Employers pay 50% to 60% of a voucher's value in 2026, within limits that qualify for tax and social-charge exemptions.
Restaurant groups would prefer workers to spend more of the vouchers in restaurants, while the grocery sector says workers should choose how to use them.
Some lawmakers have proposed a lower spending limit in supermarkets than in restaurants, but that idea was rejected in committee and may be debated again.
French lawmakers began debating a bill to make grocery purchases with meal vouchers a permanent option.
The authorization has so far been a temporary exemption renewed from year to year.
Restaurant businesses oppose the change, while grocery retailers and some employees support allowing workers to choose how to use their vouchers.
Some lawmakers have proposed separate spending limits for supermarkets and restaurants, but the idea was rejected in committee.
Employees interviewed by franceinfo said using vouchers for groceries helps their budgets and that a lower supermarket limit would not necessarily make them eat at restaurants more often.
- Who
- French lawmakers are debating the bill. Restaurant businesses oppose it, while grocery retailers and some employees favor broader grocery use.
- What
- A bill would make the use of meal vouchers to buy food for groceries permanent.
- When
- Debate began Monday, October 12, 2026.
- Where
- In the French National Assembly.
- Why
- The bill aims to allow grocery purchases with meal vouchers without a time limit; employees cited support for their purchasing power.
Restaurant businesses
Grocery retailers and employees favoring freedom of use
Use of vouchers for groceries
Restaurant businesses
Restaurant businesses oppose making grocery use permanent.
Grocery retailers and employees favoring freedom of use
Grocery retailers and employees say workers should be free to use vouchers for groceries.
Separate spending limits
Restaurant businesses
Some lawmakers have proposed limiting supermarket purchases to 10 or 15 euros while allowing 25 euros at restaurants.
Grocery retailers and employees favoring freedom of use
Judith Jiguet called the proposed double limit extremely shocking and said employees should decide how to use vouchers.
All my colleagues use them for their everyday shopping, very few to go to restaurants.
It is the employee who pays half of it! It is up to them to decide how to use it.
We can't afford 25-euro meals every day.
The meal voucher was created, initially called a meal voucher.
The rules changed; before then, vouchers could be used only at restaurants or for products ready to eat.
Lawmakers began debating a bill to make grocery use of meal vouchers permanent.
- Bill
- Would make grocery use of meal vouchers permanent
- Current authorization
- A temporary exemption renewed from year to year
- Proposed supermarket limit
- 10 or 15 euros
- Proposed restaurant limit
- 25 euros
- Employer contribution in 2026
- 50% to 60% of the voucher's value
Sources
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