Labour hire workers

This guide is designed to assist labour hire workers, apprentices and trainees with work health and safety rights.

A labour hire worker in aged care

Learn what labour hire is, your rights and obligations.

A labour hire worker's rights

A labour hire worker has the same health and safety rights as any other worker directly engaged by the host employer, including the right to:

a physically and psychologically healthy and safe workplace
refuse to perform unsafe work
be represented and consulted with about health and safety
be protected from adverse actions if you raise a health and safety issue or concern.

When starting work as a labour hire worker, you need to be shown how to do your job safely by someone suitably skilled and knowledgeable. This is called an induction and needs to be provided to you by the labour hire agency and host employer. The induction should include work health and safety (WHS) policies and procedures.

For more information on what the labour hire agency and host employer should provide to you to ensure your health and safety, refer to A guide for labour hire workers, group training apprentices and trainees [PDF]. Translated versions (Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional) and Vietnamese) are available below.

It is the labour hire agency and host employer's responsibility to work together to ensure your safety during your placement.

If you are not comfortable or feel that the work you have been asked to do is unsafe, you have a right to speak up and raise this with the labour hire agency and host employer.

If you feel the labour hire agency or group training organisation or host employer has failed to provide you with adequate induction, adequate training, workplace assessment, or you have concerns about your health and safety, and you do not feel comfortable speaking up to the labour hire agency (or Group Training Organisation or host employer), then you can call SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50 or report it on our Speak Up App.

Further information

Guides and checklists

Labour hire animations

We have a number of labour hire animations which explain the labour hire industry for workers.

Organisations who can help

If you are worried about anything to do with health and safety at work, or about workers compensation, you can get further information and advice from the following:

Anti-Discrimination Board

Visit the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board for information on discrimination in the workplace

Fair Work Commission

General protections dismissal

Fair Work Commission home page

Fair Work Ombudsman

National Employment Standards - the 11 minimum employment entitlements for all employees.

Trades and licencing

NSW Fair Trading - information to help you be a licensed tradesperson.

Phone: 13 32 20

If you need an interpreter, call the Telephone Interpreter Service on 131 450