Half of restaurants more expensive with smart cash till

Almost half of the country’s restaurants have increased their prices as a result of the introduction of the new smart cash register at the start of the year, according to SNI, the union of the self-employed. The government disagrees on the cause.

From a poll of 528 businesses, the union found that 45% had put their prices up since the registers were introduced, with an average increase of 10%. The new registers leave no room for undeclared income: in theory, every transaction has to pass through the till where it is recorded and a receipt issued. Staff, too, are logged in to the register, which documents their working hours.

The tills became compulsory for every establishment where food service accounts for at least 10% of income. That could include full-service restaurants or pubs selling only a single daily dish, but excludes old-style cafes offering only a bag of crisps or a dried salami.

SNI also found that 42% of the businesses polled were now opening less often or for shorter hours. One in five has already let staff go, while 58% of the rest were expecting to have to do so in the future.

According to Bart Tommelein, the minister for combating social fraud, the new registers are not to blame for the price increases. The government has taken measures to lessen the blow of their introduction, he said, including flexi-jobs and a new regime governing overtime. “Working in the black has never been ok, smart registers or no smart registers,” he said. “It’s not as if there’s a new system in place, so I can’t see a reason for price rises.”

Photo (c) www.milo-profi.be/Visit Flanders