This week, results of a Victorian inquiry were released which support the concept of Portable Long Service leave for workers in the community sector and security industry, as well as contract cleaners. The findings state that the implementation of such a scheme would be warranted on equity grounds, and that precedence is set by the existence of similar plans in NSW, Queensland and the ACT, as well as in the construction sector and black coal industry.
Potential issues are the discrepancies between what various employers would pay, and the current rates of 'actual' long service leave paid out.
It is interesting that such an inquiry comes at a time when job transitions are higher than ever, with many private sector employees changing employers within a few years. Whilst trends among the younger generations of workers point towards LSL becoming obsolete, it is interesting that portable long service leave would be introduced to certain sectors to provide equity compared to permanent private sector roles.
Given that long service leave is a uniquely Australian concept, originally developed to provide the private sector with the same rights as the public sector (who were provided additional leave in order able to return to England to visit family after 10 years public service in the colonies), the concept of portable long service leave for certain sectors is an interesting reflection.
If you currently engage contracted cleaning and security services, the implementation of PLSL would mean that you would pay the LSL entitlements to a third party fund, which would manage the distribution when the workers change employers.