Long service leave

Three separate government agencies govern the long service leave schemes in the ACT:

  • WorkSafe ACT
  • The Fair Work Ombudsman
  • ACT Leave

WorkSafe ACT is the government agency responsible in the ACT for the administration of the Long Service Leave Act 1976, an Act that provide workers with minimum conditions of service provisions involving long service leave.

The Long Service Leave Act 1976 covers employees in the ACT private sector who are not covered by an industrial award or agreement, or in some cases, where an award or agreement does not contain provisions for long service leave.

Fair Work Ombudsman (Phone: 13 13 94) is the body to advise private sector employees if their employer is covered by any industrial award or agreement that may preclude you from the benefits under the Long Service Leave Act 1976 and advise which legislation applies for your long service leave entitlements.

The ACT Leave administers portable long service leave schemes for the following industries under ACT Government legislation:

  • Construction industry
  • Cleaning industry
  • Community sector
  • Security industry

The schemes allow workers to move from employer to employer (and even service as a self-employed worker is accrued) without losing credit for time worked (service) in the covered industry.  The employers pay monies to ACT Leave to cover long service leave entitlements and workers may request an estimate of their long service leave entitlements at any time. The information will be sent to the worker via email. Enquiries may not be made on behalf of another person. A log of each enquiry is kept and details of all enquiries are shown on the worker's next annual certificate.

Claims may be made by downloading and completing the relevant claim form the ACT Leave website.

Claiming long service leave entitlements

If you are not employed by a business under a federal award or agreement, and feel you have an entitlement to long service leave that is not recognised, you may request an authorised person within WorkSafe ACT to investigate your claim by completing and submitting the:

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Legislation

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Contact options

Contact the Workplace Infoline at Fair Work Australia on 13 13 94 to identify if you have a Long Service Leave agreement in place. For matters relating to wage, Enterprise Bargaining Agreement and other conditions of service matters, please also contact Workplace Infoline at Fair Work Australia on 13 13 94 between 8.00am and 7.00pm Monday to Friday.

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