Australian States have legislated portable long service leave schemes for the building and construction industry, the community services industry, the contract cleaning and security industries. This means that workers can take their long service entitlement with them if they change jobs, but are still in the same industry.
For example, in Queensland, legislation states that building and construction industry ‘workers are entitled to long service leave payments regardless of whether they work on different projects for one or more employers.’
The Queensland construction industry scheme is funded by levies imposed on the total cost of a building and construction work costing $150,000 or more (ex GST). The industry is also required to pay a health and safety levy and a skills levy.
Community services industry, contract cleaning industry and security industry schemes generally require that employers pay a long service levy for each worker.