By Júlia Pestana São Paulo, 09/02/2026 - The new rules of the Worker Food Program (PAT) come into effect this Monday, but with uncertain reach. Ticket, Pluxee, and VR have obtained court decisions that suspend the application of penalties from the decree, and Alelo is awaiting a similar decision. According to market estimates, the four companies account for about 80% of the sector, which raises doubts about the practical effectiveness of the implementation. For the operators that did not obtain a preliminary injunction, the ceiling of 3.6% for the fees charged to restaurants, markets, and other establishments that accept food and meal vouchers takes effect today. The decree also reduces the period for passing on the amounts to commerce from 30 to 15 calendar days. Before the change, there was no regulatory ceiling for the fees and this was one of the main points of complaint from supermarkets, restaurants, and bars, which claim that the high percentages limit their margins. "I ...