Long service leave

Most South Australian workers receive 13 weeks long service leave after 10 years' service with an employer, or related employers, with pro rata entitlement after seven years.

Private sector workers are covered by the national workplace relations system, most receiving their long service leave entitlements from the South Australian Long Service Leave Act 1987.

Local government workers are also covered by this Act.

Other arrangements apply to workers:

• in the construction industry, employed predominantly on-site
• in the South Australian public service
• whose entitlements are based on a federal award or agreement prior to 1 January 2010
• employed by the federal government.

Our fact sheet (PDF 62kb) tells you more, or if you're still in doubt about your entitlements contact us on 1300 365 255.

Long Service Leave Calculator

If you think the Long Service Leave Act 1987 applies to you, our long service leave calculator can assist to calculate an entitlement.

Long Service Leave Records

Section 10 of the Long Service Leave Act 1987 and Regulation 4 of the Long Service Leave Regulations 2017 require an employer to keep certain records. The template below can be used for keeping those records. The records template is not required if the employer instead promptly and accurately records the information in wages, leave or other similar records kept by the employer (whether in hard copy or electronic form). A sample is available as a guide for the template.

National workplace relations system

The National Employment Standards are 10 minimum employment entitlements - including long service leave - that must be provided to all workers with workplace arrangements in place before 1 January 2010.

The Long Service Leave Act 1987 does not apply if long service leave entitlements in a federal award or agreement would have covered an employer and their workers before that date.

More information is available from the Fair Work Ombudsman or phone 13 13 94.

Construction industry

If you work in the construction industry you can qualify for long service leave based on your service to the industry, rather than to just one employer.

Employers must register with Portable Long Service Leave and pay a levy every two months to the Construction Industry Fund. The current levy rate of 2.15% is fixed by the Construction Industry Long Service Leave Board.

When your long service leave entitlement is due, you get paid from this fund.

South Australian public service

Your long service leave entitlements are defined through legislation and a Determination of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment if:

• you work in the South Australian public service in an administrative unit or attached office
• your employment has been declared by another Act or the Regulations.

If in doubt, talk to someone from human resources within your agency.