Who must hold a licence, and who regulates it?
The Labour Hire Authority implements the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018 (Vic), which introduced a licensing scheme for providers of labour hire across all industry sectors. To operate legally in Victoria, a labour hire provider must be licensed.
Victoria’s labour hire laws are being strengthened in stages during 2026. Changes from 1 June 2026 affect who is considered suitable to hold a labour hire licence; confirm the current position with the Labour Hire Authority.
Supplying workers into Victoria from interstate
A provider supplying workers in Victoria must be licensed in Victoria, regardless of where the business is based. Mutual recognition arrangements can affect how an interstate licence is treated — check the Labour Hire Authority for how this applies to your business.
Penalties and the public register
Hosts and workers can confirm a provider is licensed using the public Labour Hire Licence Register on the Labour Hire Authority website.
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 Victoria: FAQ
Do you need a labour hire licence in Victoria?
Yes. Under the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018 (Vic) a labour hire provider must be licensed to operate in Victoria, and hosts must use only licensed providers.
Who administers labour hire licensing in Victoria?
The Labour Hire Authority, which maintains a public Labour Hire Licence Register.
Does an interstate business need a Victorian licence?
A provider supplying workers in Victoria must be licensed in Victoria. Mutual recognition arrangements can affect how an interstate licence is treated, so check with the Labour Hire Authority.
Are Victoria’s labour hire laws changing?
Yes. Victoria’s labour hire laws are being strengthened in stages during 2026, including changes from 1 June 2026 to who is suitable to hold a licence. Confirm the current requirements with the Labour Hire Authority.
Sources: Labour Hire Authority (Victoria); Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018 (Vic).