Meal vouchers are an important economic tool for employers to support employees. Following the examination by the business community of the draft amendment to Law No 166/2017 on meal vouchers, on January 29, 2025, the Ministry of Finance organized a small group meeting with the representatives of Associations.
During the meeting, we discussed the proposals submitted by EBA during the September 2024 collection of proposals exercise and presented in EBA Position Paper No. 01-25/SD dated January 02, 2025
(https://eba.md/uploaded/Documente%20de%20pozitie%202025/1.%20DP%20EBA%20prop%20suplimentare%20Tichete%20de%20masa%CC%86%2027.12.2024.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawIPCWNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHQYoXphOV4LHIaGSLsPPNg3WuOObytyPAzFwkr3z42pBA5EeDpSAO7kxvw_aem_0unexkL32mtj1HuyJZdRfA).
Some of the changes proposed by EBA were:
1. Extend the validity period of the meal voucher - up to 12 months;
2. Annual adjustment of the value of food stamps - automating the adjustment to reflect inflation and minimum consumption basket.
3. Elimination of social security contributions for meal vouchers - a measure that would reduce employers' costs and increase the attractiveness of this benefit.
4. Combining meal vouchers with other food facilities - especially for employees working night shifts or in regional subdivisions.
5. Revision of the calculation formula for shift work - bringing it in line with the Labor Code rules, with reduced duration of night work.
EBA was represented by:
Sandra Dolghii, Tax Policy Manager EBA;
Diana Ilicciev, Chief Accountant Victoriabank and Chair of the EBA Tax Committee;
Carolina Semeniuc - Head of Financial and Managerial Accounting Department of maib;
Cristina Pavlovschii - HR Director of Danube Logistics;
We thank the Ministry of Finance for its openness to dialog and commitment to supporting initiatives that support the business environment and employees in the Republic of Moldova.