The Community Service Industry (CSI) had a new Portable Long Service Leave scheme commence in July 2025, allowing workers within this industry to accrue long service leave across different employers.
Under the new scheme, workers within the community sector become eligible for long service after seven years of service to the industry, across one or more employer. It will allow eligible workers to access up to six weeks of long service leave based on ordinary wages and there is no requirement for it to be taken straight away, or all at once.
From 1 July 2025, the scheme required employers with one or more worker in the CSI to register with the Long Service Corporation (LSC) and begin recording worker service and gross ordinary wages.
The lodgment of the service returns for the first three quarters of the financial year and associated levy payments are due on 14 April 2026.
From April 2026, employers will be required to lodge service records and levy payments on a quarterly basis.
Obligations in relation to the scheme are:
- Employers must have assessed their eligibility and applied for registration with LSC within one month of becoming an eligible employer.
- Detail changes must be provided by employers to LSC within the seven days of the changes taking place.
- Requests from LSC must be responded to within the specified timeframe.
To comply with the new requirements and deadlines for LSL reporting as a CSI employer ensure that:
- Your organisation is registered with the LSC.
- Payroll systems have been reviewed and modified to track employee service and gross wages.
- The organisation is budgeting for levy contributions and ensuring payments, particularly the first payment due 14 April 2026, are made on time.
- Internal policies and employment contracts are aligned with the scheme.
- You are consulting staff about the operations of the scheme and its benefits.
The scheme does not override any of the requirements of the Long Service Leave Act 1955. Under the Long Service Leave Act, employees are entitled to long service leave if they work for one employer for 10 consecutive years.
For more information about your organisation’s obligations under the CSI LSL scheme, contact us via the link below.