Welcome to the second edition of labour hire licensing news!
Queensland’s labour hire licensing scheme continues to deliver strong outcomes by protecting vulnerable workers and upholding the integrity of the labour hire industry. These results are achieved through close collaboration with stakeholders, regulators, and the broader community.
This quarter we are focusing on the disability services sector, with the Fair Work Ombudsman sharing information about workers’ rights and employer obligations. This issue also highlights the collaborative approach the Labour hire licensing compliance unit (LHLCU) takes to working with other agencies to achieve compliance and enforcement outcomes. We also provide guidance around recognising sham contracting and ensuring workers are correctly classified.
Licensing update January to June 2025
- 341 licence applications submitted
- 269 licences granted
- 1,818 licence renewals granted
- 15 licence applications refused and 8 licences cancelled
Licensed labour hire providers that do not comply with their obligations may have their licence cancelled or suspended. The licensing action report from January to June 2025 includes labour hire licences suspended by the Labour hire licensing compliance unit (LHLCU) and labour hire licences cancelled by the LHLCU.
In undertaking its work, the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) prioritises working with and ensuring compliance across a number of sectors. Find out more on the Work Safe website.
If you supply workers to another person, regardless of whether they are independent contractors or employees, you must have a labour hire licence. If you would like to discuss an arrangement to ensure you are complying with your obligations under the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2017 (the LHL Act) please contact us or phone 1300 576 088.
A recent report into modern slavery (PDF, 420KB) by the Office of the Anti-Slavery.
The Labour hire licensing compliance unit (LHLCU) will be conducting field operations in the Lockyer Valley, Moreton Bay, Southern Downs and Far North Queensland during 2025–26. Labour hire users in these regions are encouraged to ensure they are meeting their obligations. Read the full article for details on what to expect and how to prepare.
The Labour hire licensing compliance unit (LHLCU) recently attended a multi-agency Phoenix taskforce (taskforce) meeting focused on addressing non-compliant behaviour within a labour hire syndicate operating in Victoria, NSW and QLD predominantly in the security, hospitality and cleaning industries. The LHLCU participates in cross-agency collaboration with the taskforce to detect, disrupt and dismantle the illegal phoenix syndicate.
Queensland’s labour hire licensing scheme has achieved a significant number of successful prosecutions since its commencement. To date, there have been 27 prosecutions for offences against the Act, with fines totalling $1.92 million imposed by the courts, including the recent notable prosecution detailed below. These outcomes demonstrate the scheme’s effectiveness in enforcing the legislation.
