- MyLeave long service leave payments total $500 million over 36 years
- The State Government scheme continues to benefit construction workers in WA
MyLeave has reached a major milestone with $500 million in long service leave payments made to over 65,000 construction workers in the March 2022 quarter.
Normally to be entitled to long service leave benefits, workers must accrue a minimum seven years’ service with a single employer.
However, workers in the construction industry may find themselves working with many different employers over the same period due to the nature of the industry.
That’s why in 1986, the then Labor Government established the portable long service leave scheme to allow construction workers to carry these benefits from employer to employer.
Interestingly, it took nearly 30 years for MyLeave to achieve $250 million in payments, but only around six years to double to $500 million by 2022.
Long service leave payments are currently being made to 4,000 to 5,000 construction workers annually. At this rate, total payments made will increase to $1 billion by 2034.
Comments attributed to Industrial Relations Minister Bill Johnston:
“This $500 million achievement demonstrates the importance and value of the long service leave scheme for construction workers.
“Without the MyLeave scheme, many construction workers would have missed out on long service entitlements and the ability to take well-earned paid breaks, like other West Australian workers.
“This would be a great shame and we appreciate their hard work and commitment to the construction sector and WA economy.”
