What is portable long service leave?
Portable long service leave lets you build up long service leave across multiple employers in industries like construction, cleaning, and community services.
Portable long service leave (LSL) is a state and territory scheme that lets workers accrue long service leave based on time in an industry, rather than time with a single employer. It is designed for industries where workers move between employers often.
Each state and territory runs its own portable schemes, administered by a separate authority. They commonly cover the building and construction, contract cleaning, and community services sectors. Employers register and pay levies into a central fund, and workers can claim or transfer their accrued leave even when they change employers within the industry.
Key facts
- •Portable LSL accrues across employers within a covered industry, not just one job
- •Each state and territory runs its own scheme and authority
- •Common covered industries are building and construction, contract cleaning, and community services
- •Employers pay levies into a central fund administered by the scheme
- •Eligibility, rates, and covered industries differ between states and territories
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Long Service Leave CalculatorFrequently asked questions
Which industries have portable long service leave?
It varies by state, but portable LSL schemes commonly cover building and construction, contract cleaning, and community services. Check the scheme in your state or territory for exact coverage.
Do I keep my long service leave if I change employers?
Under a portable scheme, yes — your accrued service stays with you as long as you keep working for registered employers in the covered industry within that state or territory.
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