Longserviceleave.com

NSW contract cleaning portable long service leave

If you clean for a contract cleaning business in NSW, your long service can build up under a portable scheme run by the Long Service Corporation. The scheme covers service from 1 July 2011. Your service stays with you when you move between contract cleaning employers.

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Estimate your scheme entitlement

Long Service Corporation

Enter the service the scheme has recorded for you. This is an estimate; the scheme's own statement is what counts.

From your service statement or the member portal.

$

Before tax, without overtime.

Find your number and check your service

See how to find your registration number, the member portal and what to do if service is missing.

The state long service leave calculator does not apply to this scheme. If you are covered, your leave is worked out and paid by Long Service Corporation (LSC) under its own rules. Check your service record with the scheme.

Who is covered

  • Full-time, part-time and casual employees of contract cleaning employers, meaning businesses that provide cleaning services to other people.
  • Your work must be all or mostly bringing or keeping premises clean in NSW.
  • Supervisors who mostly clean.
  • Contractors may register voluntarily.
  • Not covered: cleaners employed by the owner of the premises, pure supervisors or managers, partners, directors, trustees and government employees.
  • Not covered: linen, lawn and garden, aircraft, train and car cleaning, and waste removal.

When you qualify

You need 10 years of recognised service. Only service from 1 July 2011 counts under the scheme.

What you get

You get 8.67 weeks (2 months) for 10 years, and 4.33 weeks (one month) after each additional 5 years. The payment is P = (D / 365) x W x 0.8667, where D is your days of service and W is your highest average ordinary weekly wage over the last 6 months, 12 months, 5 years or 10 years.

Leaving early, illness, retirement and death

  • Pro rata payment with 5 years of recognised service if you have permanently left the industry. You can claim no earlier than 10 weeks after leaving, and your registration ends.
  • If a worker dies with at least 5 years of service, their representative can claim.
  • For claims while you are still in the industry, you must take leave of at least 2 weeks.

How it is paid

The Long Service Corporation pays you directly. Tax is withheld at your marginal rate. Your employer's obligations under the Long Service Leave Act 1955 continue, and service before 1 July 2011 is your employer's liability, not the scheme's.

How to claim

Claim through the Long Service Corporation. Workers log in at https://cci.longservice.nsw.gov.au/web/pub/employeeLogin.aspx. If you are still working in the industry, you need to take at least 2 weeks of leave. If you have left, wait at least 10 weeks after leaving before you claim.

Before you rely on this

  • Service before 1 July 2011 is not in the scheme. Claim that from your employer under the 1955 Act.
  • The pay rate uses the highest of four averaging periods, so check your wage records for each.
  • Cleaning of vehicles, aircraft and trains, linen work and waste removal are outside the scheme.

The scheme and its law

Common questions

I clean an office building for the company that owns it. Am I covered?

No. Cleaners employed by the owner of the premises are excluded. The scheme covers employees of contract cleaning businesses.

How is my payment worked out?

P = (D / 365) x W x 0.8667. D is your days of recognised service and W is your highest average ordinary weekly wage over the last 6 months, 12 months, 5 years or 10 years.

Can I claim if I leave cleaning after 6 years?

Yes. With at least 5 years of recognised service you can get a pro rata payment if you have permanently left the industry. Claim no earlier than 10 weeks after leaving.

What about my service before July 2011?

The scheme only covers service from 1 July 2011. Earlier service is your employer's liability under the Long Service Leave Act 1955.

Official sources

Last reviewed 3 November 2026.