Who must hold a licence, and who regulates it?
The Labour Hire Licensing Act 2017 (SA) and the Labour Hire Licensing Regulations 2018 (SA) require labour hire providers to be licensed, administered by Consumer and Business Services.
From 29 January 2026, amendments returned the Act to its original broad form: all labour hire providers and workers are covered, not only the five sectors previously specified (horticulture processing, meat processing, seafood processing, cleaning and trolley collection), subject to a six-month transition. From 29 July 2026, penalties apply to providers who operate without a licence and to anyone who engages an unlicensed provider.
Supplying workers into South Australia from interstate
A provider supplying labour hire in South Australia must be licensed there, regardless of where the business is based. A business based in another state that supplies workers into South Australia needs a South Australian licence.
Penalties and the public register
Host businesses must ensure their provider is licensed or risk penalties for using an unlicensed provider; you can check a provider’s licence through Consumer and Business Services.
The records gap a licence does not close
A labour hire licence confirms you’re permitted to supply workers. It says nothing about whether your record of the hours those workers actually worked will hold up if it’s ever challenged.
That is the gap the Workforce Ledger Evidentiary Standard (WLES) addresses: hours verified at the point of work, approved by the supervisor, and sealed into a tamper-evident record before payroll.
Labour hire licensing in South Australia: FAQ
Do you need a labour hire licence in South Australia?
Yes. Under the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2017 (SA), labour hire providers must be licensed. From 29 January 2026 the scheme covers all providers across every sector, subject to a six-month transition.
When do penalties for unlicensed labour hire start in South Australia?
From 29 July 2026, penalties apply to providers who operate without a licence and to anyone who engages an unlicensed provider.
Who administers labour hire licensing in South Australia?
Consumer and Business Services administers the scheme.
Does an interstate business need a South Australian licence?
Yes. A provider supplying labour hire in South Australia must be licensed there, regardless of where the business is based.
Sources: Consumer and Business Services — Labour hire licensing reforms; SA.GOV.AU — Labour hire licensing.