Latest News

Record penalty of $617,916 for unlicensed horticulture provider / Meat processing industry in focus / Victoria and Queensland regulator collaboration

The Court found the company was unlicensed when it supplied workers to horticulture businesses in Koo Wee Rup, Rosebud, Torquay and Devon Meadows.

The campaign covers digital, social media, radio and press channels, and will be translated into a range of languages.

The meat processing industry will be a focus of Labour Hire Authority (LHA) engagement and compliance activities this summer.

Recent high-profile prosecutions show impact of licensing laws and interstate collaboration.

Correctly classifying workers helps to ensure businesses are paying the correct entitlements.

LHA has engaged extensively with the labour hire industry in 2023, travelling thousands of kilometres and talking to hundreds of providers, hosts and stakeholders.

A total penalty of $264,352 has been issued to a Victorian company and its director for engaging seven unlicensed labour hire providers to source workers for orchards in the Cobram area.

An unlicensed labour hire company has been issued a total penalty of $617,916 – the highest in Australian history for breaches of labour hire law.

Towards a fairer industry – LHA annual report / 2022-23 in numbers / LHA website upgrades

The Labour Hire Authority (LHA) highlights progress towards its strategic objective to create and maintain a fair and lawful industry in its 2022-23 annual report.

The Labour Hire Authority (LHA) highlights progress towards its strategic objective to achieve high impact compliance and enforcement outcomes in its 2022-23 annual report.

The Labour Hire Authority (LHA) shows significant activity and outcomes across its licensing, compliance, enforcement and engagement functions in its 2022-23 annual report.

The conditions require the provider to supply LHA with a payroll summary report each month.

The site’s most visited pages have been updated to be more simple and accessible.

Labour hire providers and hosts should be aware of upcoming and recent changes to the Fair Work Act to ensure they continue to meet their legal obligations.

LHA recently met over 100 stakeholders from across the cleaning industry at the ISSA Cleaning and Hygiene Expo.

Supreme Court action taken against allegedly unlicensed construction companies / Security provider has transparency conditions imposed / Suburban engagement sessions / LHA talks cleaning at the upcoming ISSA Expo

LHA has commenced legal action after several companies allegedly engaged unlicensed labour hire providers.

LHA has imposed supply chain transparency conditions on the licence of a large security provider.

LHA continues its engagement activities for providers, hosts and stakeholders.

LHA will have a booth and presentations during the expo in November.

The campaign includes a hotline for reporting issues, and aims to minimise harm to women apprentices.

This October, hosts and providers are encouraged to promote healthy and safe workplaces.

Supreme Court undertaking re unlicensed providing / Licence granted with conditions / Responding to requests for information

LHA alleges the company provided unlicensed labour hire services, and underpaid and provided substandard accommodation to workers.

The conditions imposed are intended to ensure workers are paid correctly and LHA has transparency over the supply chain.

Ensuring you supply correct and timely information to LHA if requested is integral to a successful licence application.

As well as helping to protect workers and improve the labour hire industry, licensing provides business benefits for legitimate providers.

Register now for upcoming information sessions in your area.

LHA alleges the company provided unlicensed labour hire services, and underpaid and provided substandard accommodation to workers picking grapes and chestnuts in the Benalla region.

New Supreme Court action / Changes to Fair Work Act and PALM scheme / Objecting to a licence application

The company allegedly failed to notify LHA of multiple changes in directors, and appointed a director who was not a fit and proper person.

New cleaning businesses are responding to a targeted LHA campaign, with most now applying for a labour hire licence up front.

The changes apply to areas including employee leave entitlements, superannuation, and protections for migrant workers.

Changes include new minimum hours of work and pay for PALM scheme workers, and expanded protections under the Fair Work Act for all migrant workers.

If you have concerns about a provider’s application, you can raise an objection within 14 days.

LHA sessions included meetings with PALM employers and commercial cleaning providers.

LHA has commenced legal action in the Supreme Court of Victoria against a company that allegedly provided workers to farms in the Yarra Valley and Koo Wee Rup.

LHA alleges a horticulture provider subcontracted to seven unlicensed providers to supply pickers for orchards in the Cobram area.

New Supreme Court action in horticulture / Reducing risk around unlicensed providers / EOFY housekeeping

LHA alleges a horticulture provider subcontracted to seven unlicensed providers to supply pickers for orchards in the Cobram area.

Read about the latest outcome of LHA’s focus on the Victorian horticulture industry.

A quick check could prevent a major issue – use LHA’s tools to confirm your provider is licensed.

The increases took effect from 1 July 2023.

The new financial year provides a reminder to check your business and contact details are up to date.

The first half of 2023 has been busy with LHA engagement activities.

Alleged bribe offered to LHA inspector / licence applications refused / conditions imposed re sham contracting and supply chain transparency/ how to report problems to LHA.

A Victorian company has had its labour hire licence application refused after an investigation by LHA.

LHA’s focus on unlawful engagement of independent contractors continues.

LHA has imposed conditions on a security provider’s licence after its arrangements with subcontractors raised concerns.

The Federal Government has conducted an initial consultation around regulating the labour hire industry nationally.

Anyone with a complaint, concern, or information on providers who may not be meeting their obligations is encouraged to make a report.

Engagement activities continue throughout Victoria.

Legal action and compliance in horticulture / changes to workplace law / upcoming events and more

LHA has filed proceedings in the Supreme Court of Victoria alleging the company continued to provide workers after its labour hire licence application was refused.

Issues in the horticulture industry are a focus for Labour Hire Authority compliance and engagement work in 2023.

Information sessions and engagement activities continue around regional Victoria in May.

It’s important to be across new laws that affect areas including flexible work arrangements, zombie agreements and multi-employer bargaining.

It is essential that licensed labour hire providers keep their details up to date with LHA to maintain their licence.

Victoria’s Labour Hire Authority has commenced legal action against a company alleging it provided workers to pick fruit and vegetables without a labour hire licence.

VCAT upholds licence refusal / advertising services without a licence / changes to job advertisement regulations

Provider is not up-front after low contract prices uncover risk of non-compliance.

LHA recently cancelled a provider’s licence after an attempt to thwart an investigation.

Here's what you need to know before you start advertising labour hire services.

It’s important to ensure you’re across new laws that affect how you write job adverts.

LHA is holding a range of sessions and engagement activities around Victoria across 2023.

Compliance at the tennis / Joint operation with QLD / Obligations around trainees

The LHA recently completed an operation at the 2023 Australian Open to speak with security workers about their employment conditions.

LHA is collaborating with the Queensland Labour Hire Licensing Compliance Unit to tackle worker exploitation among providers operating across both states.

LHA is holding a range of sessions and engagement activities around Victoria across this year.

Labour hire providers should be aware of their regulatory obligations when employing apprentices and trainees.

Business Victoria has launched an initiative to provide support and relief to flood-affected business owners.

In this edition: Renewals due / 2023 engagement and compliance / Focus on phoenixing

LHA is expanding its work in 2023 – be prepared and get involved

Avoid issues by renewing your labour hire licence in advance

LHA has been cracking down on phoenixing – learn more about this highly illegal practice and the warning signs to look out for.

Where licence applicants are not fit and proper, applications may be refused

Some providers will need to meet new requirements under the Public Health and Wellbeing (Prescribed Accommodation) Regulations 2020

Changes to the Fair Work Act mean all employees are now eligible to take paid family and domestic violence leave