New regulation on meal cards from the Council of State: Can they be used in supermarkets?
The Council of State has issued a new decision regarding the use of meal cards in restaurants and supermarkets. Accordingly, the premium exemption for expenditures made at restaurants with meal cards will be applied regardless of the expenditure amount. However, this exemption for supermarket purchases has been limited to 158 TL per day.
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The rapid rise in food prices in Turkey due to high inflation has led millions of employees to use their meal cards for supermarket shopping. This situation was brought to the agenda by the call of Öner Piyade, President of the Meal Cards Association, to restrict their use in supermarkets.
FULL EXEMPTION FOR RESTAURANT EXPENDITURES, LIMITATION FOR SUPERMARKETS
According to the report by Ahmet Kıvanç from Habertürk, the Social Security Institution (SGK) circular has been amended in line with this decision by the Council of State. Employers will now be encouraged to make higher payments to their employees via meal cards. However, the 158 TL premium exemption limit set for supermarket purchases has sparked reactions due to the exclusion of supermarkets from the scope.
WILL SUPERMARKET USE CONTINUE?
Despite the demand from restaurant operators to restrict the use of meal cards in supermarkets, it is anticipated that many employees will continue to use these cards in supermarkets to meet their basic needs due to economic conditions.