Greece social partners seek higher tax-free meal voucher limits

Social partners in Greece, including major employer and labor organizations, have submitted a joint letter to the Ministry of National Economy and Finance requesting an increase in the daily tax-free limit for meal vouchers. The proposal seeks to raise the limit from the current 6 euros to 10 euros per working day, a threshold that has remained unchanged since 2004.

Data from the Institute of Small Enterprises of GSVEE indicates that approximately 25% of Greek employees receive meal vouchers or cards. Research shows that 95.7% of these recipients use the vouchers for supermarket purchases and household essentials rather than workplace meals.

Many businesses are increasingly opting for in-kind benefits, such as meal vouchers and fuel cards, instead of direct salary increases. This trend is driven by high non-wage labor costs and tax burdens; for instance, 54.2% of companies cite tax advantages as a primary reason for choosing in-kind benefits. While this approach helps businesses avoid high social security contributions and allows employees to receive funds without immediate income tax deductions, labor unions have raised concerns regarding potential impacts on long-term pension contributions and the risk of undeclared labor.