Agreements
Labour Agreements
For businesses with genuine workforce needs that fall outside the scope of standard employer sponsorship. Labour agreements provide access to occupations, salary arrangements and English language concessions not available through the standard visa program.
- Negotiated with the Department
- Access to occupations not on standard lists
- Typically 6–12 months
What Is a Labour Agreement?
A Labour Agreement is a formal arrangement between an employer — or an industry or regional body — and the Australian Government that allows access to overseas workers in circumstances the standard sponsorship program cannot accommodate. They are used where there is a demonstrable and genuine need for overseas workers that cannot be met through existing visa pathways, typically because of occupation restrictions, salary level considerations or the specific characteristics of a regional area.
Types of Labour Agreements
| Type | Who It Applies To | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) | Employers in specific regional areas | Access to wider occupation list + lower salary thresholds for regional needs |
| Industry Labour Agreements | Specific industries (e.g. aged care, on-hire, advertising) | Sector-specific concessions on occupation lists and salary |
| Company-Specific Labour Agreements | Individual businesses with unique needs not covered by DAMA or industry agreements | Customised terms for the specific business circumstances |
Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMA) — In Detail
DAMAs are the most commonly used form of labour agreement for regional employers. Each DAMA covers a specific region of Australia and is managed by a regional authority (often a council or state government). The key advantages of a DAMA are:
- Access to occupations not on the standard Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL)
- Lower salary thresholds than standard sponsorship in some streams
- Lower English language requirements for some occupations
- Access to occupations specific to regional industries (e.g. farm managers, certain hospitality roles)
How We Help with Labour Agreements
- Assess whether a standard sponsorship pathway or a labour agreement is more appropriate for your business
- Identify the correct DAMA or industry agreement for your region and sector
- Manage the accession process (applying to access an existing DAMA or industry agreement)
- For company-specific agreements: prepare and negotiate the full agreement with the Department
- Once the agreement is in place: manage all nomination and visa applications under the agreement's terms
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