Aligning migration to your workforce needs
For some employers, standard skilled migration pathways don’t offer the flexibility needed for their workforce demands—especially when operating in regional areas, navigating industry-wide shortages, or managing unique business circumstances.
Labour Agreements allow businesses to sponsor overseas workers under more flexible conditions than standard visa programs, aligning visa requirements with specific workforce needs.
A well-informed Labour Agreement strategy—designed to reflect your business’s unique workforce needs—can make all the difference in securing the right agreement and building a sustainable, skilled team.
Labour Agreement Sponsorship Australia
482 Skills in Demand Visa
Core Skills
Specialist Skills
Labour Agreement
494 Regional Visa
Sponsored
Labour Agreement
186 Permanent Visa
Temporary Resident Transition
Direct Entry
Labour Agreement
Labour Agreement Visa Australia
Labour Agreements fall into four main categories—industry, company-specific, project and Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs), with varying levels of flexibility to negotiate visa terms with Home Affairs.
To apply, employers must lodge a Labour Agreement Request and meet specific requirements based on the agreement type. To assist employers with understanding each Labour Agreement’s key features, Interstaff has prepared a comparative analysis.
| Labour Agreement Type | Purpose | Visa Terms | Concessions Available | Employer Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industry Labour Agreements | Addresses Sector-Specific Needs in industries with ongoing skill shortages. | Fixed Terms and Conditions set out in a template agreement established in consultation with industry bodies and Home Affairs. | Occupation, Salary, Skills, Work Experience, English language & Age. {{ Read more }} Industry-specific occupations may go beyond standard program occupation lists. | Eligible businesses can apply under established agreements: {{ Read more }} Available for: * Advertising * Aged Care * Dairy * Fishing * Horticulture * Meat * Minister of Religion * On-hire * Pork * Restaurant (Fine Dining) |
| Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) | Focused on Regional Workforce Needs to alleviate local skill shortages. | Fixed Terms and Conditions –set out in a template agreement established in consultation with Regional area stakeholders and Home Affairs. | Occupation, Salary, Skills, Work Experience, English language & Age. {{ Read more }} Industry-specific occupations may go beyond standard program occupation lists. | Regional businesses can apply to the regional body for endorsement under the established agreements. {{ Read more }} DAMAs are available in: * Pilbara, WA * South West, WA * East Kimberley, WA * Western Australia * Adelaide City (Technology and Innovation Advancement), SA * South Australia Regional, SA * Far North Queensland, QLD * Townsville, QLD * Goulburn Valley, VIC * Great South Coast, VIC * Northern Territory, NT * Orana, NSW |
| Company-specific Labour Agreements | For Unique, company-specific skills needs to address genuine skills shortages not covered by other programs. | Negotiated when employers request specific concessions based on their distinct workforce requirements. | Occupation, Salary, Skills, Work Experience, English language & Age. {{ Read more }} See policy updates on 14 December 2024. | Employers must provide compelling evidence of their niche skill needs and conduct stakeholder engagement. {{ Read more }} Local recruitment efforts required to support the Labour Agreement Request. |
| Project Agreements | For Large-Scale Projects – major resource or infrastructure projects experiencing genuine skill shortages. | Negotiated between a project company and Home Affairs. Government endorsement for project required. | Occupation, Salary, Skills, Work Experience, English language & Age. {{ Read more }} Only approved occupations relevant to the project may be included in the Agreement. | Employers involved in the project apply for Labour Agreements – a strong business case is required. |
Talk to us to explore a migration strategy for your project needs.
Labour Agreement Strategy for Targeted Migration
Home Affairs considers business requests for a Labour Agreement on a case-by-case basis. It is essential that employers build a strong business case that clearly justifies their need for concessions.
Once approved, Labour Agreements provide a five-year sponsorship period to engage overseas workers with access to specific visa concessions.
Interstaff partners with employers to develop a Labour Agreement Strategy that considers their unique operational needs.
STrategy
Labour Agreement Suitability
We first determine the Labour Agreement pathway that best fits your workforce needs—assessing how concessions align with required skills, whether through an industry agreement, DAMA, company-specific agreement, or project-based labour agreement.
This involves:
Assessing Workforce Needs:
We work closely with employers to understand skills gaps, recruitment challenges, and long-term workforce goals.
Reviewing Suitable Labour Agreements and Eligibility:
We assess eligibility for Labour Agreement pathways across four key stages:
1. Labour Agreement Request
2. Skills Assessments
3. Nomination Applications
4. Visa Application
Read more
Strategic Visa Planning:
We develop a tailored visa strategy to enable the business to become an approved sponsor under a Labour Agreement.
This includes:
- Uncovering the basis of your business case to request a Labour Agreement
- Advising on Labour Market Testing (LMT) requirements
- Advice on leveraging Labour Agreement provisions and concessions
- Guidance on ongoing compliance obligations, such as Market Salary Rates
- Advising realistic timelines for engaging workers under a Labour Agreement
Apply & comply
Labour Agreements Australia
We assist your business and employees with all aspects of the Labour Agreement, Nomination and Visa application process.
Precise Application Management:
Interstaff guides your business to present evidence for a labour agreement request—including business cases, workforce data, and compliance records.
Clear and Ongoing Communication:
Regular updates to the employer and visa applicants to ensure transparency and alignment throughout the process.
Reporting and Workforce Planning Support:
Comprehensive reports tracking the progress of each application, allowing you to make informed decisions for workforce planning.
Retain & grow
Staying Compliant
For ongoing skilled migration needs, we help integrate immigration policies into a business’ workforce planning and retention strategies.
This includes:
Renewals and Adjustments:
- Labour Agreement renewals or variations
- Visa renewals
- Permanent Residence pathways
- Compliance advice during business or employment changes
Navigating Complex Regulations:
Interstaff interprets and advises on Australian immigration laws and policy updates, helping businesses stay compliant and avoid costly errors.
Read more
Post-visa Support for Employees and Their Families:
This includes pathways such as Australian Citizenship.
Labour Agreements FAQs
Sectors such as hospitality, agriculture, health, and construction often rely on labour agreements in Australia to fill roles that are difficult to source locally.
Eligible overseas workers nominated by an employer with a valid labour agreement may apply for a labour agreement visa Australia.
The employer must demonstrate genuine skill shortages and meet the conditions of the agreement.
Employers must apply to the Department of Home Affairs, provide evidence of local recruitment efforts, and demonstrate that overseas workers are essential to meet workforce needs.
Speak to Interstaff to understand more about the Labour Agreement sponsorship Australia process.