Contract Cleaning Portable Long Service Scheme FAQs
On this page
- About us
- What is portable long service
- Why contract cleaning is different
- How it works
- What are days credited
- What are total credits
- How it's different from superannuation
- When you can take long service
- When to claim
- How much it costs
- What to do
- What if you have been with your employer for many years
- Employer reimbursement payments
- Does the scheme affect wages
About us
The Long Service Corporation is a statutory body of the NSW Government which is responsible for the management of portable long service schemes for workers in both the building and construction, and contract cleaning industries.
The Contract Cleaning Industry Portable Long Service Leave Scheme commenced 1 July 2011, and the scheme now manages levy collection and payments on behalf of approximately 1,000 employers and 35,000 workers.
What is portable long service
Long service leave is a benefit available to most NSW workers, where they take two months of paid leave after they have worked for the same employer for 10 years and one month of paid leave for every five years of service.
‘Portable’ long service means that it does not matter who you work for – your long service record stays with you and can be added into by any of your employers over the time of your registration or working in the industry. Our scheme recognises service in the NSW cleaning industry, regardless of how many employers you have worked for.
That’s why it's important that you keep an eye on your record – and make sure your contact details are always up to date.
Why contract cleaning is different
In the cleaning industry, it is unusual for someone to work for the same employer for 10 years. To make sure cleaning workers have the opportunity to access a similar benefit to everyone else, the Long Service Corporation set up a special ‘portable’ long service scheme.
How it works
Employers tell us who works for them, how much cleaning work they have done, and how much they were paid for the work.
The Corporation calculates the ‘levy’ to be paid by the employer as a percentage of each worker’s wage. Your ‘service record’ is updated when your employer lodges their quarterly return.
What are days credited
This is the number of days credited to your record and is capped at a maximum of 365 service days per year.
What are total credits
This is the total number of days credited to your record since you registered with the scheme.
How it's different from superannuation
Superannuation is a retirement fund in your name that your employer contributes to.
Portable Long Service is a general pool of funds invested on behalf of all workers, not directly deposited into an account in your name. When you have enough service, you can make a claim and take leave from your job and the payment is made by us.
When you can take long service
If you are still working in the NSW cleaning industry, you must have at least 3650 days (10 years) of recognised service and take at least 2 weeks long service leave.
If you have permanently ceased work in the NSW cleaning industry and have at least 1825 days (5 years) of recognised service, you may apply for a pro rata payment.
When to claim
You can claim if you have 10 years (or 3650 days) service credits, and you are still working in the industry. If you do this, you must take at least 2 weeks long service leave.
If you have permanently stopped working in the NSW cleaning industry and have at least 5 years (or 1825 days) service, you may apply for a pro rata payment.
How much it costs
Nothing. The scheme does not cost anything for workers.
Levies are paid by industry employers only.
What to do
Make sure that we always have your correct contact details.
Every year your statement will be available online that tells you how much service has been recorded for you by your employer/s and gives you a total of how much has built-up.
We will contact you when your annual statement is ready to access.
You should check this statement to make sure that all of the cleaning work that you have done is recorded. If it is correct – then you have nothing to do until your contact details change or the next statement is available.
What if you have been with your employer for many years
The NSW long service scheme started on 1 July 2011 and does not recognise service before this date. You should check with your employer about any long service entitlement for periods of employment before 1 July 2011.
You may apply for long service, once you have accrued:
- 10 years of recognised service or
- every 5 years of recognised service after the first 10 years.
You can apply for a pro rata long service payment if you have at least 5 years of recognised service and:
- have permanently stopped work in the industry and 10 weeks have passed from your termination date, or
- in the event of your death, your personal representative may apply for a payment.
Employer reimbursement payments
If your employer has made a long service payment to you, they may apply for a reimbursement payment from the Long Service Corporation (LSC). This service cannot also be claimed by you.
If your employer has made a payment to you for continuous service under the Long Service Leave Act 1955, you cannot also apply to the Long Service Corporation (LSC) for a reimbursement payment.
Does the scheme affect wages
The scheme does not affect your wages.
Your employer must report gross ordinary wages paid to you during the period you performed cleaning work. This includes shift penalties but does not include overtime and allowances for travel, meals, protective clothing or materials and equipment.
Your employer is required to lodge a quarterly return to advise us of the following:
- the period you were employed in the last 3 months
- start and end date
- total gross ordinary wages paid to you.
In some cases, the wages will be different to what is shown on your PAYG payment summary or payslip because employers do not report to LSC any termination payments, redundancy payments, leave loading, overtime (for full time staff), bonuses or allowances for travel, meals and protective clothing.
