More casual workers now eligible for paid sick and carer’s leave

More than 400 types of casual and contract workers including rideshare drivers, fitness instructors and hairdressers are now eligible for up to 38 hours of sick and carer’s leave each year.

More than 400 professions are now elible for sick and carer’s pay

Missing out on pay while under the weather will become a thing of the past for thousands more casual workers.

Employment minister Ben Carroll on Saturday morning announced the increase to the number of jobs covered by the Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee, with the pilot program extended until March 2025.

More than 400 new jobs are now eligible for the nation-leading Sick Pay Guarantee, which will give thousands more workers in casual and contract jobs the opportunity to access up to 38 hours of sick and carer’s pay each year.

Casual, contract and self-employed workers including community support workers, taxi and rideshare drivers, arts workers, childcare and early childhood workers, fitness instructors, tourism and outdoor recreation workers, factory workers, fruit pickers and hairdressers can now check their eligibility and sign up to the scheme.

Newly eligible workers can apply for sick and carer’s pay from the day they sign up, and workers who were eligible in the first phase of the pilot will benefit from an additional year of the pilot.

The $245.7 million Australian-first initiative aims to reduce workplace illnesses and injuries and keep businesses safer and more productive.

Since the pilot launched in March 2022, more than 76,000 casual and contract workers have signed up.

In that time, the Sick Pay Guarantee has covered more than 1.8 million hours of sick and carer’s pay, giving workers the financial security to stay home when they’re sick or need to care for loved ones.

Mr Carroll said he was “proud” to be giving certainty to more casual workers.

“People shouldn’t be forced to choose between going to work sick or putting food on the table – we’re proud to be expanding the Sick Pay Guarantee, because we know how important it is to support Victorians.”

“Insecure work has terrible consequences, and we know how important it is for people to have the support and certainly they need to stay home and recover if they are sick or caring for a loved one,” Mr Carroll said.

Workers can check their eligibility and sign up online at vic.gov.au/sickpayguarantee or in the Service Victoria app.

Neighbourhood Houses can also help people to sign up and access the scheme – visit www.nhvic.org.au to find a participating Neighbourhood House.

Originally published as More casual workers now eligible for paid sick and carer’s leave