Labour agreement
Statutory definition
Labour agreements are negotiated under the authority of the Migration Regulations 1994 and approved by the Minister. They specify the occupations, annual intake caps, and conditions applicable to sponsored workers under that agreement. The employer must demonstrate a genuine need for the overseas workers and that the terms of employment are consistent with Australian workplace standards.
Explanation
Labour agreements are used where the standard sponsored migration framework does not provide an appropriate pathway — for example, where the occupation is not on any standard occupation list, where a lower English language threshold is needed for a specific sector, or where there is a demonstrated industry-wide shortage. Types include company-specific agreements, industry-wide agreements (such as the Meat Industry Labour Agreement), and designated area migration agreements. Workers sponsored under labour agreements are subject to the same sponsorship obligation protections as standard SBS-sponsored workers.