Labour Hire Regulation
Labour hire regulation is important because it helps protect workers from being taken advantage of and treated unfairly. In Australia, some workers hired through labour hire companies can be vulnerable, especially in industries like farming, construction, cleaning, hospitality, and meat processing where labour hire is used frequently. In these sectors, workers may face poor working conditions and low pay. Complex subcontracting arrangements and the short-term nature of the work can create conditions that allow exploitation to occur.
Recognising these risks, Victoria, Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory, and South Australia have introduced labour hire licensing schemes to address the issues of exploitation and poor compliance with industrial laws. These measures have been successful, setting important foundations for further regulatory developments.
There is currently no licensing scheme in New South Wales, however, New South Wales is working with the Commonwealth and remaining states to consider the best approaches to a nationally consistent framework to labour hire regulation and licencing. The NSW Government is considering how best to regulate labour hire providers operating in NSW.
Licenced Labour Hire Providers
To assist individuals and businesses in NSW that use labour hire companies links outlining providers that hold a licence in jurisdictions with a licensing scheme are set out below. A search of the Victorian, SA and ACT registers will be required to undertaken to find cancelled or suspended licences as well as those labour hire companies with a licence.
Queensland
Register of Labour Hire Licences · Labour Hire Licensing Queensland
Suspended Licences · Labour Hire Licensing Queensland
Cancelled Licences · Labour Hire Licensing Queensland
Victoria
ACT
South Australia