Labour Agreements
Labour Agreements enable Australian employers to recruit a specified number of overseas workers in areas of skill shortage.
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Labour Agreements
Labour Agreements are agreements between Australian business institutions and the Australian government letting the former recruit an agreed number of overseas skilled workers. Labour agreements is a favourable pathway to immigration for the semi-skilled labour. Business organisations need to consult industry stakeholders while developing their labour agreements.
What are the eligibility requirements for organisations applying for the labour agreement?
- Must demonstrate that they have a genuine labour market need to utilise the labour market agreement.
- Must be an Australian registered business with a good standing
- Must be seeking to fill skilled occupations that are currently not on the list of eligible occupations.
- Must be able to meet salary and employment conditions.
What are the types of Labour Agreement?
Company-specific labour agreements
A Company-Specific Labour Agreement may be the perfect solution for your business needs. Designed for Australian employers who face unique skill shortages, this agreement allows you to sponsor overseas workers when standard visa programs and industry agreements don’t cover your requirements.
Industry labour agreements
Industry labour agreements provide fixed terms and conditions specific to the industry sector. Industry labour agreements are developed by the Department of Home Affairs in consultation with key industry stakeholders. Currently there are industry agreements in place for advertising, aged care, dairy, fishing, horticulture, meat, minister of religion, on-hire, pork and fine dining restaurants.
Designated Area Migration Agreements
Designated area migration agreements provide flexibility for state/territories to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas worker in areas experiencing skills shortages.
There are currently 13 DAMAs in place. Below is a list of those DAMAs with links to the respective DAR* websites that contain information on how to access each DAMA as well as which regions/locations/shires are covered:
There are currently 13 DAMAs in place. Below is a list of those DAMAs with links to the respective DAR* websites that contain information on how to access each DAMA as well as which regions/locations/shires are covered:
- Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement, SA: Skilled & Business Migration
- East Kimberley, WA: East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Far North Queensland, QLD: Cairns Chamber of Commerce
- Goulburn Valley, VIC: Goulburn Valley
- Great South Coast, VIC: Warrnambool City Council
- Northern Territory, NT: Northern Territory Designated Area Migration Agreement
- Orana, NSW: Regional Development Australia – Orana, NSW
- Pilbara, WA: RDA Pilbara
- South Australia Regional, SA: Skilled & Business Migration
- South West, WA: Shire of Dardanup
- The Goldfields, WA: City of Kalgoorlie Boulder
- Townsville, QLD: Townsville Enterprise Limited
- Western Australia: Department of Training and Workforce Development
Project Agreements
Project agreements allow project companies endorsed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade under the China-Australia Investment Facilitation Arrangement to employ temporary overseas workers where there are genuine skills shortages.
Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot
The Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot, available until June 30, 2025 with 500 visa spots, enables businesses to access a diverse pool of skilled refugees—including doctors, engineers, and software developers—to fill workplace vacancies. Developed in partnership with Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB), the pilot helps overcome barriers refugees face in obtaining employer-sponsored skilled visas to Australia. TBB assists businesses in identifying and recruiting suitable candidates from their Talent Catalog and provides support throughout the visa application process and after the recruits arrive in Australia.
What are the advantages of a labour agreement?
- Access to tailored occupation lists – Businesses can sponsor workers for occupations not vailable under standard visa programs.
- Pathways under Subclass 482 and Subclass 186 – Allows sponsorship under both temporary (Skills in Demand/482) and permanent (ENS/186) visas.
- Five-year validity – Labour Agreements are usually valid for five years, offering medium-term workforce planning stability.
- Fills genuine skills shortages – Enables employers to sponsor skilled workers where no suitable Australian workers are available.
- Potential for PR – Provides a structured pathway for overseas workers to transition from temporary to permanent residency.
- Customised to business needs – Agreements are negotiated with the government based on specific labour market needs and business cases.
- Supports regional employers – Particularly beneficial for regional or niche businesses struggling to attract skilled local talent.
- Flexibility in recruitment – Streamlines the process for hiring overseas workers over the life of the agreement.
- Demonstrates commitment – Shows the business's long-term commitment to workforce development and compliance.
How we can help your business apply for a Labour Agreement?
Navigating Labour Agreements can be a complex process, but Better Life Migration is here to streamline it for your business. Our expert services include:
- Business Eligibility Assessment: We evaluate your business to ensure it meets the legislative criteria for company-specific labour agreements.
- Comprehensive Documentation Support: We collaborate with you to gather and organise all necessary documentation and information for your application.
- Application Management: We handle the entire application process, lodging with the Department of Home Affairs and managing it until final approval.
- Compliance and Monitoring Assistance: After approval, we help your business comply with sponsorship obligations and provide ongoing monitoring to maintain compliance.
- Expert Guidance and Support: Benefit from our range of migration services designed to assist you every step of the way, ensuring a smooth and successful Labour Agreement process.
Choose Better Life Migration to simplify your Labour Agreement journey, secure skilled overseas workers, and enhance your Australian business’s workforce effectively.
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