Page 1517 - Week 04 - Thursday, 29 March 2012
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foreshadowed on several occasions its intention to extend the portable long service leave scheme to the security industry. This bill now finalises that commitment.
The Long Service Leave (Portable Schemes) (Security Industry) Amendment Bill amends the act by firstly identifying the security industry as a covered industry, and then providing a schedule specific to the security industry. It establishes a mandatory portable long service leave scheme for security workers and employers. These amendments will recognise the importance of the security workforce and will also go towards improving the attraction and retention of workers in the industry. Not only is it a win for workers; it will contribute toward stability within the industry.
The bill will cover “front-line” security workers including guards, patrol workers, cash in transit, crowd marshals and bodyguards. It excludes workers that hold licences relating to the sale, installation and maintenance of security systems, devices and locksmiths. These workers are generally covered under the current building and construction industry scheme and a double-up would create unnecessary complexity and confusion.
The government recognises the increasing demand placed on security industry services and the impact this has on its workforce. The scheme will support security industry workers in a number of ways. It will protect the basic entitlement to long service leave for all security industry workers, even where this is accrued by service to multiple employers. This is similar to some government worker entitlements to long service leave that can be accrued through service with multiple government agencies, or even multiple governments.
The scheme acknowledges loyalty to the sector rather than just one employer, thus enhancing mobility and facilitating the creation of a sustainable career path. The schedule created by the bill sets long service leave entitlements for eligible employees at a fixed rate of leave for employment in the sector.
The scheme offers 8.67 weeks of long service leave after 10 years of service. It also provides for a pro-rata entitlement after seven years of service. In instances such as incapacity or retirement, pro-rata long service leave entitlements may be cashed in after five years of service. The portable scheme does not allow for payment instead of leave. The employee must take their leave.
The scheme is flexible and allows for a four-year break in employment in the industry. Employees with a break in service longer than four years and less than five or seven years service are deregistered without an entitlement. Employees with longer than a four-year break and five or more years of service are deregistered with an entitlement.
Where an employee entitlement relates to a combination of long service leave, for example, leave accrued prior to the commencement of the scheme and leave accrued after the commencement of the scheme, the Long Service Leave Authority will reimburse employers for that portion of the payment that relates to leave accrued after the commencement of the scheme.
The scheme will be administered by the Long Service Leave Authority and associated board, which consists of representatives of employer groups, employee associations
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