Who must hold a licence, and who regulates it?
Western Australia does not require a licence for labour hire — supplying short-term or temporary workers to a host business.
A different regime applies to employment agents: under the Employment Agents Act 1976 (WA) you need an employment agent’s licence if you charge a fee to help people find work or to help businesses find employees. This is administered by Consumer Protection within the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety. It is not a labour hire licence.
Supplying workers into Western Australia from interstate
WA’s position does not change your obligations elsewhere. Supplying workers into a scheme jurisdiction — Queensland, Victoria, South Australia or the ACT — still requires that jurisdiction’s licence.
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 Western Australia: FAQ
Do you need a labour hire licence in Western Australia?
No. WA does not require a labour hire licence to supply temporary workers. A separate employment agent’s licence applies under the Employment Agents Act 1976 (WA) to businesses that charge a fee to place people in work.
What is the difference between labour hire and an employment agent in WA?
Labour hire supplies temporary workers to a host and needs no WA licence. An employment agent charges a fee to match people with work and must be licensed under the Employment Agents Act 1976 (WA).
Does supplying into another state require a licence?
Yes. Supplying workers into Queensland, Victoria, South Australia or the ACT requires that jurisdiction’s labour hire licence, regardless of WA’s position.
Sources: WA Government — Employment agent’s licence; Consumer Protection (DEMIRS) — Becoming an employment agent.