What Is a Labour Agreement?
A labour agreement is a formal arrangement between an Australian employer and the Department of Home Affairs. It allows the employer to sponsor overseas workers under terms that differ from the standard Temporary Skill Shortage visa stream — for example, sponsoring workers in occupations not on the standard lists, or with different salary, age, or English language thresholds.
Labour agreements exist because the standard visa system can't anticipate every workforce need. They are a structured way for employers with genuine, documented gaps to access workers outside the usual parameters.
Types of Labour Agreement
| Type | Who it's for | Process |
|---|---|---|
| Company-specific | A single employer with unique, documented workforce needs not met by standard streams | Negotiated directly with the Department — typically 6–12 months |
| Industry agreement | All employers in an identified sector (e.g. meat processing, aged care, fishing) | Employer applies to access the existing agreement |
| DAMA — Designated Area Migration Agreement | Employers in a regional area covered by a DAMA | Employer applies through the relevant regional authority |
| Global Talent Employer Sponsored (GTES) | Employers nominating highly skilled innovators in priority sectors | Employer must be GTES-approved; faster than standard labour agreements |
DAMAs in South Australia
South Australia has a Designated Area Migration Agreement covering regional and outer metropolitan areas of the state. Employers operating in those areas can access occupation lists and salary concessions that aren't available under the standard TSS stream — including occupations that don't appear on the standard skilled occupation lists.
DAMA requirements change — the specific occupations, salary thresholds, and regional boundaries are updated periodically. We verify current requirements before advising on DAMA access.
Industry Agreements
Several industry-wide labour agreements already cover specific sectors. Where your sector has an active industry agreement, you access it by applying to the Department — not by negotiating your own. This is significantly faster than a company-specific agreement.
We confirm which industry agreements are current and whether your business and the position you want to fill are covered.
Company-Specific Agreements — When and Why
A company-specific agreement is appropriate where:
- The occupation the employer needs is not on standard lists and not covered by an industry agreement
- The employer has documented recruitment attempts that demonstrate the position cannot be filled locally
- There is a genuine, ongoing workforce need that justifies the length and complexity of the negotiation process
The negotiation process involves detailed documentation of the business's workforce needs, pay and conditions, and recruitment efforts. We assist employers in preparing the documentation package and managing the negotiation with the Department.
For Workers Under a Labour Agreement
If your employer is sponsoring you through a labour agreement, the nomination and visa application process differs from a standard TSS. The occupation, salary, and English language conditions in your application must match the specific terms of the agreement — not the standard TSS requirements.
We review labour agreement nominations before lodgement to confirm they correctly reflect the agreement terms.