news
ACSA frets over
leave reform
Peak body concerned
about cost and viability of
making long-service leave
portable for workers.
Natalie Hutchins
A
ged & Community Services
Australia (ACSA) has raised
concerns over workers taking their
long-service leave with them as they move
from one employer to another.
The Victorian Government has accepted
the recommendations of a parliamentary
committee on the introduction of portable
long service leave across the aged care and
community services sector. It will now look
at designing options for a viable scheme.
ACSA said it’s worried that the move
would take away an incentive for workers
to remain with employers for the long
term. The peak body said portability runs
counter to the fundamental intent and
purpose of long-service leave, which is to
reward loyalty and provide an incentive for
employees to remain with their employer.
Of the decision to move forward
with the parliamentary committee’s
recommendations, the Victorian
Government said employees in the
community services, security and
contract cleaning industries are often
unable to continue working for a single
employer long enough to qualify for
long-service leave, due to the nature of
the industries and a variety of short-term
funding arrangements.
State minister for industrial relations
Natalie Hutchins said long-service leave
arrangements should meet the needs of
modern workplaces. “The sad reality is, due
to the nature of some workplaces, some
workers are not eligible for long-service
leave,” Hutchins said. “We need to work
towards a better and fairer system.”
ACSA chief executive Pat Sparrow said:
“While we understand the concerns of our
workforce, ACSA is concerned that portability
will make costs for employers, such as
replacement expenses, increase, as well as
causing a rise in the administrative burden.”
ACSA has offered to work with Victorian
Premier Daniel Andrews to assist in
discussions surrounding the design of
portable long-service leave schemes, to
ensure aged-care providers are not unfairly
disadvantaged by any potential changes. ■
your future, divided
On average, Australian women have just over half the super of men.*
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hesta.com.au/mindthegap
Issued by H.E.S.T. Australia Ltd ABN 66 006 818 695 AFSL 235249, the Trustee of Health Employees Superannuation Trust Australia (HESTA) ABN 64 971 749 321. *According to Australian Bureau
of Statistics (ABS) Retirement and Retirement Intentions, Australia, July 2012 to June 2013, women in Australia retire with 47% less in their super than men. abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/mf/6238.0
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