The tidy portable long service leave scheme for the contract cleaning industry
We administer the portable long service leave scheme for the contract cleaning industry in the ACT in accordance with the Long Service Leave Act (Portable Schemes) Act 2009.
The scheme allows eligible workers to move between employers in the contract cleaning industry while accruing service towards a portable long service leave entitlement.
The scheme even allows workers to accrue portable long service leave while self-employed.
In the ACT, contract cleaning industry workers registered on or after 24 June 2000 are entitled to:
- 6.06 weeks of portable long service leave after 7 years of recorded service in the industry
- 0.867 weeks of leave for every year after 10 years.
How the contract cleaning industry scheme works
In the ACT, employers with workers covered under the scheme must:
- register with us
- pay a levy set at 1.07% of the gross ordinary wages of those workers.
Contractors, such as working directors and sub-contractors, have the option to make their own contributions if they wish to accrue service in the scheme.
Contractor registration with the scheme is voluntary. The benefit is a payment instead of leave.
When a worker decides to claim some or all of their portable long service leave entitlement, they can lodge a long service leave claim form. We (not the employer) will pay the benefit.
Interstate service in the contract cleaning industry
Portable long service leave schemes for the contract cleaning industry exist in:
- NSW
- Queensland
- Victoria.
There are some differences in:
- the type of work covered
- the benefits offered under each scheme (including weekly pay rates).
ACT Leave has an agreement with NSW and Queensland to recognise service recorded in those jurisdictions.
We will calculate and pay any portion of interstate service included in your claim in line with the law and policies of the relevant interstate scheme.
For questions about portable long service leave in other states and territories, contact the provider in the relevant jurisdiction.
Coverage for employers and workers in the contract cleaning industry
Workers covered under the scheme include:
- employees and contractors directly performing relevant work as defined below
- working directors.
A worker can be:
- working for salary or wages
- a contractor
- full time, part time or casual.
A key difference between employees and contractors is:
- employers must record service for their employees
- contractors and working directors can choose to record service for themselves.
Relevant work in the contract cleaning industry
Relevant contract cleaning work in the ACT includes:
- work that has a sole or main purpose of making or keeping premises clean
- collecting or sorting waste at or for a waste management facility, provided that the employer has a contract with the ACT Government.
This includes drivers and sorters for waste management facilities under contract with the ACT Government, from 1 July 2016.
If you’re not sure if your workers are covered, contact us to clarify.
Not covered in the cleaning industry
Office workers and workers who are not performing relevant work as defined above are not covered by the scheme.
