The payment card can be used in existing payment terminals used for debit and credit cards. About 400 employers have already signed an agreement with the issuers to use the electronic system for their staff members who receive meal vouchers. So far, the electronic cards are only accepted by Carrefour, Aldi and Cora.

Launching the new system, federal Enterprise minister Vincent Van Quickenborne stressed the system's potential: 1.3 million employees receive some 250 million meal vouchers a year. The electronic system, he said, brings only advantages for the consumer: Vouchers can no longer be lost as the card can be blocked; users will be alerted by SMS when unused cheques are approaching their expiry date; and customers are no longer required to use up the whole face value of a voucher when shopping.

For stores, there will be less administrative costs, and the system is simpler for employers to use. The electronic system also does away with the need for security transports when carrying cheques to employers and from shops.

Unizo, the Flemish organisation that represents the self-employed and retail federation Fedis have complained that, although switching to the electronic system is free for employers, small retailers that don’t already have terminals will have to equip themselves with one or risk losing customers who want to use the meal vouchers. All retailers will also have to accept both systems until the paper vouchers eventually disappear.