The NT Government has commenced consultation on a Portable Long Service Leave Scheme for the Territory’s community services sector.

Community service sector portable long service schemes already operate in the ACT and Victoria.

The purpose of such schemes is to allow workers to access long service leave. Due to the nature of work and funding models in the community services sector, for example child care and disability support services, employees often miss this benefit as they move from job-to-job and change employers regularly.

The scheme would be similar to NT Build - an existing portable long service leave scheme for the construction industry which operates in all States and Territories across Australia.

How a portable long service leave scheme works:

·         Employers in the community service sector are identified and registered with the portable long service scheme authority;

·         The employer registers eligible employees;

·         As the employees move from one eligible employer to another, they continue to accrue long service leave; and 

·         After a defined number of years of working in the community service sector, workers are eligible to access their long service leave entitlements.

A local actuary has been engaged to consult with key stakeholders, including employers and unions, on the feasibility and type of model that would best suit the Northern Territory.

A discussion paper is now available on the NT Government’s Have Your Say site.

To find out more about the proposed scheme and contribute feedback visit www.haveyoursay.nt.gov.au.

Quotes from Minister for Public Employment, Gerry McCarthy:

“A portable long service leave scheme would reflect the diversity and complexity of employment status within the community service sector and deliver fairness and equity to these workers.

“Being able to transfer long service leave entitlements from job-to-job would provide workers with long service leave security.

“The Territory Labor Government respects the rights of those in our workforce and that’s why we have opened up consultation on long service leave arrangements for the community services sector that would be more flexible for both employers and employees.”

Media contact: Jasmin Afianos - 0419 361 127.