The Andrews Labor Government has accepted the recommendations of a Parliamentary Committee on the  introduction of Portable Long Service Leave in the community services, security and contract cleaning industries.

Employees in these sectors are often unable to continue working for a single employer long enough to qualify for Long Service Leave due to the nature of the industries and a variety of short term funding arrangements.

The Labor Government will now look at options for design of portable long service leave schemes for these industries to determine how to make a scheme viable.

The Parliamentary Committee identified a need for further investigation into the viability of any system.

Portable Long Service leave was introduced for construction workers in 1975. The authority that maintains the system, Co-Invest, has been in operation for 40 years and paid out more than $1.1 billion to workers over that period.

The Labor Government recognises the need for laws to change to keep pace with how these industries evolve, ensuring employees are not disadvantaged.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Industrial Relations Natalie Hutchins

“Long service leave arrangements should meet the needs of our modern workplaces – that’s why we’re taking the steps necessary to look after workers and make sure they’re not short changed.”

“The sad reality is due to the nature of some workplaces, some workers are not eligible for long service leave. We need to work towards a better and fairer system.”