In 2005 the State Government passed the Long Service Leave (Amendment) Act 2005 to amend the Long Service Leave Act 1992.

The purpose of the amendment was:

• to make the law relating to long service leave more consistent with modern working practices and with similar laws in other Australian jurisdictions
  
  
• to ensure that employees who take leave for family reasons are not disadvantaged, and
  
  
• to ensure categories of employees such as casual and seasonal employees are treated fairly.

In summary, the reforms:

• allow employees to take an initial period of long service leave after 10 years rather than 15 years (this is to be phased in)
  
  
• provide more appropriate penalties for non-compliance with long service leave legislative provisions
  
  
• specifically define an employee to include a casual or seasonal employee
  
  
• require that all forms of unpaid leave count as employment time except unpaid parental leave
  
  
• make access to pro rata long service leave payments available to employees upon termination after 7 rather than 10 years, and
  
  
• provide that long service leave is exclusive of public holidays.

The long service leave entitlement remains at 13 weeks leave after 15 years service (approximately .086 weeks per year of service).

The reforms commence from 1 January 2006.

...back to 29 December 2005


Further information:
Long Service Leave Reforms
Long Service Leave Entitlements
A Comprehensive Guide to the Victorian Long Service Leave Act 1992

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