These agreements are negotiated individually and are designed to address specific labour shortages while ensuring compliance with Australian workplace laws and market salary requirements.

Types of Labour Agreements

1. Company-Specific Labour Agreements

• Tailored to a single employer’s workforce needs
• Employer must demonstrate genuine and ongoing labour shortages in occupations not on standard skilled occupation lists
• Concessions negotiated on a case-by-case basis

2. Industry Labour Agreements

• Designed for sectors with identified, ongoing shortages
• Have pre-approved occupation lists and standardised terms
• Examples include:
  • Aged Care Labour Agreement
  • Meat Industry Labour Agreement
  • On-Hire Industry Labour Agreement
  • Dairy Industry Labour Agreement
  • Fishing Industry Labour Agreement

3. Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA)

• Regional agreement between the Commonwealth and a specific state/territory or regional authority
• Allows employers in that designated area to access a broader range of occupations and concessions
• Two-tier process:
  1. Endorsement by the Designated Area Representative (DAR)
  2. Labour Agreement request to DHA
• Examples: Northern Territory DAMA, Far North Queensland DAMA

4. Project Agreements

• For large-scale infrastructure or resource projects
• Allow multiple employers (subcontractors) to sponsor overseas workers under one agreement
• Often used in construction, mining, and energy sectors

5. Global Talent Employer Sponsored (GTES) Agreements

• For attracting highly skilled, niche workers where standard visas do not meet employer needs
• Two streams:
  • Established Business stream – for companies with an annual turnover of at least AUD 4 million
  • Start-up stream – for start-ups in tech-based or STEM fields

Benefits of Labour Agreements

• Access to occupations not on standard lists
• Possible concessions on English, age, and salary thresholds
• Flexibility to address specific skills shortages
• Can provide pathways to permanent residency

Employer Obligations

• Meet sponsorship obligations (record-keeping, non-discriminatory recruitment, paying the Skilling Australians Fund levy, etc.)
• Comply with Australian workplace laws
• Undertake genuine LMT unless exempt

When Should You Consider a Labour Agreement?

Labour Agreements may be the right solution for your business if:

• The occupation you need is not listed on the standard skilled occupation lists and visa do not provide for it (482 Skills in Demand visa or 494 Visa)
• Your business operates in a regional area or niche industry facing ongoing labour shortages
• You require visa conditions that are more flexible than those available through the standard SID 482 visa process
• You need access to lower skill levels, age concessions, or salary concessions unavailable under traditional pathways.

📋 What Does a Labour Agreement Include?

Each agreement sets out customised conditions, including:

• Approved occupations and position numbers
• Minimum salary thresholds (aligned with the Annual Market Salary Rate)
• Required qualifications and experience
• Commitments to training Australian citizens or permanent residents
• Concessions such as age, English, or skills assessment
• Options for a pathway to permanent residency (usually via Subclass 186)

🎯 Why Choose a Labour Agreement?

Labour Agreements are a strategic workforce planning tool that help businesses:

• Sponsor skilled workers when standard visa programs are too restrictive
• Secure long-term staffing solutions in hard-to-fill roles
• Access tailored visa options under the Skills in Demand framework
• Leverage regional migration incentives through DAMA arrangements

✅ How Tolic Lawyers Can Help with Labour Agreements

At Tolic Lawyers, we guide Australian businesses through every stage of the Labour Agreement process, including:

• Assessing business eligibility and workforce needs
• Drafting the business case and supporting documents
• Negotiating with the Department of Home Affairs
• Preparing for Labour Agreement nomination and Subclass 482/494/186 visa applications
• Managing compliance and ongoing reporting obligations

Whether you’re seeking a company-specific agreement or exploring DAMA sponsorship, our legal team ensures your case meets immigration policy and industry requirements.

💼 Book Your Free 15-Minute Employer Consultation

Take the first step toward solving your skilled labour shortage. Speak with our expert migration lawyers about your options.

📞 Schedule your FREE 15-minute discovery call to:

✔️ Find out if a Labour Agreement suits your business
✔️ Explore options for Subclass 482, 494, or 186 visa sponsorship
✔️ Learn how to access DAMA regional migration concessions

Tolic Lawyers – Employer Sponsorship. Legal Expertise. Business-Focused Solutions.