Alleged illegal phoenix activity identified following site visits in Koo Wee Rup in coordinated multi-agency Day of Action
The 46-agency Phoenix Taskforce was established in 2014 to detect, deter and disrupt illegal phoenixing.
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High-impact outcomes, and more licensed providers than ever – progress in 2023-24
The Labour Hire Authority (LHA) highlights progress towards its strategic objective to achieve high impact compliance and enforcement outcomes in its 2023-24 annual report.
Maintaining a fair and lawful industry – progress in 2023-24
The Labour Hire Authority (LHA) highlights progress towards its strategic objective to create and maintain a fair and lawful industry in its 2023-24 annual report.
LHA officers identify alleged non-compliance including underpayment of workers at meat processing facility during site visit
The site visit follows a report to LHA alleging concerns about the welfare of workers at the facility.
Alleged non-compliance identified in LHA inspections of farms in north-west Victoria
The site visits included further collaboration between LHA and FWO, and interviews with licence applicants and workers.
Allegedly unlicensed providers identified following LHA and FWO collaboration
Information shared between the regulators uncovered alleged unlicensed operations on farms in the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula.
LHA data snapshot – 2023-24 in numbers
2023-24 saw the highest ever number of labour hire licences in force, and record-breaking compliance and enforcement action
New LHA communications campaign targets meat and poultry processing workers
The campaign will run throughout July, covering digital, social media and press channels
Tackling non-compliance in the meat and poultry processing industries
LHA increases its focus on education, engagement and compliance in the meat and poultry processing industries.
Investigations continue following farm inspection by Labour Hire Authority and Fair Work Ombudsman
Inspectors attended a horticulture business in Melbourne to investigate claims of wage underpayments.
Security company refused licence after poor responses to LHA requests for information
The company was granted multiple deadline extensions, after repeated requests to provide evidence that it was compliant with legal obligations.
Unlicensed providers found operating at meat processing facility in suburban Melbourne
Several site visits uncovered a range of concerns, as LHA increases its focus on the meat and poultry industry.
Growing compliance focus on meat processing industry
The meat processing industry will be a focus of Labour Hire Authority (LHA) engagement and compliance activities this summer.
Victoria and Queensland collaboration bodes well for future of labour hire regulation in Australia
Recent high-profile prosecutions show impact of licensing laws and interstate collaboration.
Caution on independent contractors - the importance of correctly classifying workers
Correctly classifying workers helps to ensure businesses are paying the correct entitlements.
Payroll licence conditions imposed on horticulture provider to prevent potential worker exploitation
The conditions require the provider to supply LHA with a payroll summary report each month.
Case study: Improving transparency in complex supply chains in the security industry
LHA has imposed supply chain transparency conditions on the licence of a large security provider.
Large security services provider has labour hire licence granted with conditions
The conditions imposed are intended to ensure workers are paid correctly and LHA has transparency over the supply chain.
Getting off on the right foot – supporting new providers in commercial cleaning
New cleaning businesses are responding to a targeted LHA campaign, with most now applying for a labour hire licence up front.
Legal action commenced for alleged subcontracting to unlicensed providers
LHA alleges a horticulture provider subcontracted to seven unlicensed providers to supply pickers for orchards in the Cobram area.
Provider pays workers and exits industry after LHA investigation
Read about the latest outcome of LHA’s focus on the Victorian horticulture industry.
Licence application refused after applicant allegedly offers LHA inspector a bribe and provides false or misleading documents
A Victorian company has had its labour hire licence application refused after an investigation by LHA.
Sham contracting – know the rules about engaging workers correctly
LHA’s focus on unlawful engagement of independent contractors continues.
Reducing harmful risks in complex supply chains in the security industry
LHA has imposed conditions on a security provider’s licence after its arrangements with subcontractors raised concerns.
Horticulture industry in focus
Issues in the horticulture industry are a focus for Labour Hire Authority compliance and engagement work in 2023.
VCAT upholds LHA decision to refuse security provider’s licence application
Provider is not up-front after low contract prices uncover risk of non-compliance.
Case study: Licence cancelled due to provider’s dishonesty
LHA recently cancelled a provider’s licence after an attempt to thwart an investigation.
LHA in the field – security at the Australian Open
The LHA recently completed an operation at the 2023 Australian Open to speak with security workers about their employment conditions.
Victoria and Queensland team up to tackle non-compliance
LHA is collaborating with the Queensland Labour Hire Licensing Compliance Unit to tackle worker exploitation among providers operating across both states.
Renew your licence early or risk not being able to trade
Avoid issues by renewing your labour hire licence in advance
Red flags: Beware of illegal phoenix activity
LHA has been cracking down on phoenixing – learn more about this highly illegal practice and the warning signs to look out for.
Recent licence refusals – fit and proper persons
Where licence applicants are not fit and proper, applications may be refused
Are you a host or provider in commercial cleaning?
Be aware of LHA’s compliance focus in the commercial cleaning industry.
Labour hire company pays high price for dishonesty
A Victorian company and its director have been fined a total of $483,428.40 – the highest combined penalty in Australian history for contraventions of labour hire law – following a successful prosecution by the Labour Hire Authority (LHA).
Improving compliance in complex supply chains – a security industry case study
Our work in the security industry has highlighted the need for vigilance about compliance throughout labour supply chains.
Licences cancelled for non-compliance
There are serious consequences for providers who don’t comply with their obligations, as shown in recent cases in the horticulture and meat processing industries.
Compliance inspections find non-compliance with minimum accommodation standards and worker entitlements
The LHA conducted compliance visits to nine farms and nine worker accommodation premises and discovered a number of concerning issues.
Cancelled, Refused, Conditions imposed: The Labour Hire Authority is tackling exploitation in the security industry
Labour hire providers subcontracting to another provider must consider whether the arrangements allow the subcontractor to meet their legal obligations.
Sham contracting leads to licence cancellations
Labour hire providers must not use sham contracting to avoid giving employees their correct entitlements.
Addressing sham contracting through education
The Labour Hire Authority (LHA) has been running a compliance campaign designed to target sham contracting in the labour hire industry.
Case study: hosts need proper oversight of their supply chain
Issues identified during recent visits to Murray Region farms demonstrated how important it is for hosts to understand who is working at their farms and under what conditions and, as a result, avoid contravention of labour hire laws.