Long service leave normally rewards continuous service with a single employer. Portable schemes change that for particular industries, letting service accumulate across employers so that mobile workforces are not permanently denied the entitlement.
Where it applies
Portability is established by state and territory legislation and is industry-specific rather than general. Construction schemes are the longest established, and coverage has been extended in several jurisdictions to industries such as community services, contract cleaning and security. Because each scheme is separate, coverage, contribution rates and registration requirements differ by state.
- Employers in a covered industry must register and make regular contributions to the scheme
- The scheme, rather than the employer, holds the accrued entitlement
- Workers claim leave from the scheme once they meet the service threshold
Why it matters when hiring internationally
This is an obligation that only exists if you are in a covered industry in a covered state, which makes it easy to miss entirely. It is also an employer registration and contribution requirement rather than a payroll deduction, so it does not surface through ordinary payroll processing. Establishing whether a scheme applies is a question to ask before the first hire in that state, not after.