Industry Labour Agreements
Labour Agreement Lawyers for Australian Employers
An Industry Labour Agreement is a formal arrangement between the Australian Government and employers in a specific industry that enables sponsorship of overseas workers in roles not available under standard visa pathways. Each agreement covers specific occupations, eligibility requirements, and employer obligations particular to that industry.
What is an Industry Labour Agreement?
An Industry Labour Agreement is negotiated between the Department of Home Affairs and an industry body representing employers in a specific sector. Individual employers access the agreement directly, without needing to negotiate their own company-specific arrangement, by demonstrating they meet the industry criteria and have a genuine need.
Labour Agreements are used when there is no suitable standard visa pathway for the occupation required. They are particularly common in industries with chronic workforce shortages and occupations that do not appear on the Core Skills Occupation List.
Unlike standard employer-sponsored visas, Labour Agreements require specific approval from the Department of Home Affairs before any nominations can be lodged. The process involves multiple stages and direct negotiation with the Department.
Labour Agreement vs standard sponsorship
When a Labour Agreement is needed
If the occupation you need to fill is not on the Core Skills Occupation List and is not covered by a DAMA, a Labour Agreement may be the only available pathway. It allows access to occupations and workers that standard visa programs cannot accommodate.
Ongoing obligations
Labour Agreement sponsors have additional obligations beyond standard sponsorship. These include compliance with the specific terms of the industry agreement and obligations to the Department that are separate from standard sponsorship conditions.
Permanent residence pathway
Workers sponsored under a Labour Agreement 482 visa may transition to permanent residence through the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme Labour Agreement stream, subject to the terms of the applicable agreement.
10
Industry agreements
1,600+
Current LA holders
482 + 186
Visa pathways
PR pathway
Available for most
All industry Labour Agreements
Click any industry to view the eligible occupations, agreement requirements, and the current number of businesses with active Labour Agreements. Data sourced from the Department of Home Affairs published list, current as at February 2026.
| Industry | Eligible Occupations | Active Businesses |
|---|---|---|
| Advertising Industry | Advertising specialists, creative directors, digital strategists | 10 |
| Aged Care Industry | Personal care workers, residential and community care workers | 164 |
| Dairy Industry | Dairy farm workers, herd managers, milking technicians | 338 |
| Fishing Industry | Fishing hands, deck crew, aquaculture workers | 124 |
| Horticulture Industry | Specialist horticultural workers, irrigation technicians | 234 |
| Meat Industry | Slaughterers, boners, slicers, meat processing workers | 103 |
| Minister of Religion | Ministers, priests, pastors, rabbis, imams, religious instructors | 349 |
| On-Hire Industry | Skilled workers placed with host employers under on-hire arrangements | 129 |
| Pork Industry | Pork processing workers, pig farm workers, quality assurance | 53 |
| Premium Dining Industry | Executive chefs, head chefs with specialist culinary expertise | 123 |
Source: Department of Home Affairs List of Current Labour Agreements (published 18 February 2026).
Why instruct Visa Plan for your Labour Agreement?
Legal Professional Privilege
Labour Agreement applications require disclosure of sensitive business information. All communications with our admitted solicitors are protected by Legal Professional Privilege.
Direct Department negotiation
Labour Agreements require direct submission to and negotiation with the Department of Home Affairs. We prepare submissions that address the genuine need test from a position of legal and commercial understanding.
End-to-end management
We manage every stage from initial eligibility through to permanent residence, including the sponsorship, nomination, and visa applications for each worker.
Labour Agreement information sourced from the Department of Home Affairs. Business counts reflect the published list of current labour agreements as at 18 February 2026. This page provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice.