The Territory has expanded a scheme allowing workers to take their long service entitlements with them when they move jobs within the same industry.
Welcoming the passage of the Long Service Leave (Portable Schemes) Amendment Bill 2022, the Minister for Work Health and Safety, Mick Gentleman said the amendment brought fairness and equity to more workers in the ACT.
Mr Gentleman said the industries included under the Bill were the hairdressing and beauty services industry and the accommodation and food services industry.
“The ACT Government has today ensured that those within these workforces aren’t unfairly impacted by the casual and insecure nature of their work,” Mr Gentleman said.
“I am proud of what our Portable Long Service Leave Schemes achieve in providing more workers with fair and equitable access to long service leave entitlements, recognising their service in their chosen industry,” he said.
“Workers in these industries are often highly mobile, with insecure working arrangements such as short-term contracts and casualised workforces and we are helping protect these workers.”
Mr Gentleman said businesses would have two years to prepare for the newly expanded long service leave arrangements, with support from the ACT Long Service Leave Authority about how to register and meet their obligations.
He said the Authority, which administers the scheme, would commence a program of implementation work, including a comprehensive education and awareness campaign for new industries joining the scheme.
