Labour hire licence applications closing soon

Labour hire providers have until tomorrow (Friday 15 June) to apply for a licence, under the Palaszczuk Government’s new labour hire laws.

Industrial Relations Minister said more than 2300 applications for a labour hire licence had already been lodged and more than 350 had been granted since the new labour hire licensing laws started on 16 April 2018.

“I urge all labour hire providers which operate in Queensland to sign up before tomorrow’s deadline,” Ms Grace said.

“Our labour hire licensing laws are aimed at protecting vulnerable workers and improving the integrity of the industry.

“Existing labour hire providers had a 60-day transitional period to apply for a labour hire licence – but time is almost up.

“As long as their application is in by 15 June, operators can continue operating while it is being processed.

“But if operators miss this deadline to apply they must cease operation until a licence has been granted.

“The application process is really simple, with one provider who recently lodged an application described the application process as ‘straightforward and user-friendly’.”

Ms Grace said any new labour hire business would also need to obtain a licence before they could operate in Queensland.

“Labour hire providers in this state need to be licensed under our mandatory laws and that includes those operators based interstate or overseas which supply workers in Queensland,” she said.

“Importantly, if a Queensland business needs to hire labour, it must only be through a licensed provider.

“Our pioneering scheme is good for workers who have been exploited in the past and good for labour hire providers and other employers who are doing the right thing.

“It’s great to see the Queensland Government taking a hard line against providers who aren’t doing the right thing by workers.”

Ms Grace said Queensland’s Labour Hire Licensing Compliance team was now fully up and running.

“Operators who offer labour hire services without a licence, or those who try to avoid their responsibilities to workers, will risk having their licence suspended or cancelled,” she said.

“Dodgy operators and unlicensed operators could face a hefty fine or up to three year’s jail time. If you don’t follow the rules, then you can expect a visit from our compliance unit.

For more information on Queensland’s Labour Hire Licensing Scheme or to check if a business is licensed go to www.labourhire.qld.gov.au

Media enquiries: Emma Clarey – 0439 578 472