- Clearer long service leave entitlements for local government employees
- Strengthened portability scheme and enhancements for part-time and casual workers
New regulations for long service leave for local government employees are now in effect, providing a raft of improvements for around 23,000 Western Australian workers.
The Cook Government's changes to long service leave regulations enhance clarity and provide certainty of worker entitlements, including strengthening the portability of the scheme.
This means when staff change employment from one local government to another, their previous service continues to count towards their long service leave entitlements.
Further changes include:
- a longer permitted period of break between different local government employers that maintains the employee's continuity of service;
- allowing for paid parental leave from the Australian Government to count towards long service leave accrual;
- allowing taking of long service leave in advance and the cashing-out of long service leave; and
- clear protections for the entitlements in the event of unfair or unlawful dismissal.
These changes bring specific benefits for employees who have worked casually or part-time, or who have moved between local government employers.
They also incentivise local government employees to continue to service the sector, strengthening the stability of the local government workforce.For more information, visit: http://www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au/long-service
As stated by Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley:
"These important changes will have a significant and positive impact for local government workers.
"It brings clarity to employee entitlements in different situations, and it is now easier for local government employers to calculate and administer long service leave.
"My thanks go to all involved in delivering these changes including the Australian Services Union, the WA Local Government Association and Local Government Professionals WA.
"Updating these regulations is just one part of the Cook Government's reform agenda, which is delivering the biggest improvements to WA's local government system in over 25 years."
