Half of all meal voucher recipients in Belgium have been forced to reduce their spending on food due to the country's soaring inflation rate and cost of living crisis, Belga News Agency reports.
"For more than a year, Belgium has been facing the highest inflation in almost 50 years," noted a recent study commissioned by Belgium's Voucher Issuers Association (VIA). "Half of the beneficiaries of meal vouchers are forced to reduce their food expenses when this is the last item on which they wish to save money."
The study also found that almost 50% of all Belgian meal voucher recipients heavily rely on their vouchers to do their shopping, with the figure rising to 79% for low-wage workers. "Such vouchers are essential to balancing the monthly food budget of workers," the study noted.
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In addition, the report found that virtually all voucher recipients would like to see the value of their vouchers increase: 85% wish to see the current daily €8 limit rise to at least €12, while 96% would prefer it to be increased to a minimum of €10.
Last year, more than 150,000 Belgian companies granted meal vouchers to their employees.
