Today the Government passed the Long Service Leave Amendment Bill, bringing fairness and equity to more workers in the Territory.
This scheme allows workers to take their long service entitlements with them when they move jobs within the same industry. The industries included under this bill are the hairdressing and beauty services industry, and 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.
‘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’, said the Minister for Work Health and Safety, Mick Gentleman.
‘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.’
‘The ACT Government is continuing to help more Canberrans gain access to safe and secure employment’, said Minister Gentleman.
The expansion of Portable Long Service Leave to more industries delivers on an ACT Government commitment in the 10th Parliamentary and Governing Agreement.
Businesses will 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.
The scheme is administered by the Long Service Leave Authority, which will be commencing a program of implementation work, including a comprehensive education and awareness campaign for new industries joining the scheme.
