The Governments payday super reform will require employers to pay superannuation within 7 days of wages being paid.
This is a major shift from the current quarterly contribution system. For labour hire and recruitment businesses that run frequent payroll cycles, the impact on cash flow and administration will be significant.
Labour hire businesses often work with long client payment terms. It is not uncommon to wait 30,60 or 90 days for invoice payments. Currently, you can float quarterly super payments while waiting for that income. But from July 2026, that buffer disappears.
For labour hire firms managing temps or contractors, this creates two key challenges:
A guide ensuring payroll systems handle payday super seamlessly.
Labour hire businesses often work with long client payment terms. It is not uncommon to wait 30 to 60 days (or longer) for invoice payments. Currently, you can float quarterly super payments while waiting for that income. But from July 2026, that buffer disappears.
This creates pressure in three areas:
You will need to outlay super contributions more often, even if your clients have not paid you yet.
Super payments must be made on time. Missing a due date by even a few days can result in penalties.
Payroll teams will spend more time reconciling super contributions and ensuring accurate payments.
The steps your business needs to take to prepare for paying superannuationon the same day as wages.
Use the next 12 months to model how payday super will impact your cash flow. Consider how often you pay staff versus how quickly you get paid by clients.
Ensure your systems can handle frequent super contributions. Most payroll software cloud-based platforms will roll out payday super functionality, but you may need to adjust your processes.
Services like APayroll are purpose-built for recruitment and labour hire. We manage your; payroll, super, compliance reporting and back-office support, saving your team time and reducing any errors.
If long payment terms are stretching your ability to pay wages and super on time, invoice funding can help.
AFunding provides upfront access to cash for any unpaid invoices, giving you the cash flow needed to meet payroll and super obligations without delay.Our solutions work together.
APayroll handles your admin and compliance, while AFunding ensures you have the cash available when you need it.
This is not just a compliance shift. It’s a cash flow and operations issue that will affect how labour hire businesses run day to day.
If you are unsure where to start, and want to avoid last-minute panic, our team can help recommend a tailored plan. You can also access our Payday Super resources:
Estimate the extra working capital you will need when Payday Super starts.
From early 2026 Apositive will be hosting Payday Super webinars to discuss the Payday Super impact.
Starting in early 2026 we’ll add helpful articles to our blog discussing Payday Super and how to get ahead.
Need more information about Payday Super? If your question isn’t answered here, drop us a line and let’s chat.
Yes. If a contractor is classified as an employee for superannuation purposes, super must be paid with each pay cycle. For most recruitment and labour-hire agencies, this means weekly super alongside weekly payroll. The change is about timing, not eligibility.
Late payments can trigger Superannuation Guarantee Charge (SGC) obligations, including the unpaid super, interest, and an administration fee. With Payday Super, errors surface faster and there is far less room to fix issues after the fact.
The penalty framework itself is not new, but the risk increases. Weekly payments mean missed or incorrect super is identified sooner, and small errors can escalate into compliance issues much more quickly.
Yes. Some agencies choose to fund super separately to reduce cash flow pressure when moving to weekly payments. This can be effective where client payment terms are long, contractor volumes fluctuate, or margins are tight. The right approach depends on your payroll model and cash flow profile.
These agencies are often the most exposed. Weekly super removes the quarterly cash buffer, increasing the need for working capital and making cash flow timing critical. Early planning and strong alignment between payroll, funding and processes are essential.
In most cases, yes. Payday Super places greater pressure on timesheet accuracy, payroll cut-off discipline, margin checks, and clean data flowing through payroll systems. Automation or outsourced payroll can significantly reduce risk.
Both. While Payday Super is a compliance requirement, cash flow is usually where agencies feel the impact first. Businesses that address funding and payroll together are typically the most resilient.
The strongest agencies are modelling weekly super obligations, stress-testing cash flow, cleaning up payroll processes, and locking in the right partners early. Preparation creates confidence and avoids rushed decisions closer to July 2026.
Reach out to the Apositive team to talk through your options and how we can help your business prepare for 01 July 2026 and beyond.
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