Background to the introduction of the scheme

It is not unusual for workers in the contract cleaning industry to build up a few years service with an employer only to have their long service leave reset to zero following the expiration of the contract, even if they are rehired by the new contract holder. They effectively forfeit the time already served despite working in the industry for 10 years or even longer.

For a number of years peak industry organisations including the Building Service Contractors' Association of Australia (BSCAA), the Australian Cleaning Contractor's Alliance (ACCA) and United Voice (formerly the Liquor Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union) lobbied the state government to introduce a portable long service leave scheme for workers in the industry. The legislation to create the scheme received bipartisan support and became law in December 2010. The scheme commenced on 1 July 2011 and rewards workers after 10 years service in the industry rather than to one employer.

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