Please note: this is an old article
It was published in March 2019, so the information may be out-of-date.
State parliament passed the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018 on 20 June 2018 following the Victoria Inquiry into Labour Hire and Insecure Work, which found significant evidence of exploitation of workers in the labour hire industry, especially in the horticulture, meat and cleaning industries.
The Act established the Labour Hire Licensing Authority to develop and deliver a scheme that will licence labour hire providers that meet specified criteria including complying with workplace law. It will also deliver compliance, enforcement and education activities across the state.
What is the labour hire licensing scheme?
- The scheme will protect labour hire workers from exploitation and improve the integrity and transparency of the labour hire industry.
- Key scheme features include:
- Labour hire providers must be licensed to operate in Victoria – unlicensed labour hire providers will be subject to substantial penalties.
- Labour hire providers must report annually on their labour hire activities.
- Hosts must only use licensed providers or face substantial penalties.
How do I apply for a licence?
- The application process opens on 29 April 2019, when the labour hire scheme commences.
- Labour hire providers will have six months to apply for a licence.
- A register of licensed providers will be published on the Labour Hire Authority’s website.
- From 30 October 2019, hosts must not use unlicensed providers (unless a provider is on the Authority’s website as having applied for a licence and the application has not been refused).
Further information
- Visit vic.gov.au for more information or to subscribe to the Labour Hire Authority newsletter.
Local information sessions
27 March – 5:30 – 7:00pm – Agriculture Victoria offices Tatura
28 March 9:30 – 11:00am – Agriculture Victoria offices Tatura
To view all events, visit https://labourhireauthority.vic.gov.au/events