Labour hire workers in Canberra will be better protected as a result of Government legislation introduced in the Assembly today.

The first ever labour hire licensing scheme for the ACT will ensure all labour hire providers meet the workplace obligations and responsibilities they have to their workers, with penalties to apply to any providers in breach of the scheme.

Under the ACT scheme, labour hire providers will need to apply for a licence, meet a ‘suitable person’ test and demonstrate a history of ongoing compliance with industry standards and workplace laws.

Minister for Employment and Workplace Safety, Suzanne Orr said that a labour hire licensing scheme will better protect workers in the labour hire industry and ensure providers are doing the right thing.

“A labour hire licensing scheme will ensure the rights and conditions of labour hire workers in the ACT are upheld with new penalties to apply to providers who do the wrong thing,” Minister Orr said.

“Recent inquiries across the country, including here in the ACT, have highlighted the vulnerability of labour hire workers to poor treatment at work. In response to these unacceptable practices, the Government is today delivering better protection for these workers.

“The ACT Government is committed to strengthening protections for working Canberrans which is why the ACT’s scheme will have broad and comprehensive coverage,” Minister Orr concluded.

The scheme is anticipated to commence in 2021, with a 6-month transition period beginning in January 2021 for labour hire providers to apply for a licence. A publicly available licence register will assist businesses, workers and the community to know if they are dealing with legitimate labour hire providers.

Statement ends