LHA case alleges unlicensed labour hire company made $3 million through 147 breaches

12 March 2026
LHA case alleges unlicensed labour hire company made $3 million through 147 breaches

The Labour Hire Authority (LHA) has commenced legal action alleging a company was paid over $3 million for unlawful labour hire services, after serving the parties in Malaysia.

LHA’s action, filed in the Supreme Court of Victoria, alleges that YCC Workforce Pty Ltd and Ms Yee Li Kien contravened the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018 (Vic) a total of 147 times.

LHA alleges that YCC Workforce did not hold a labour hire licence when it supplied horticulture workers to an intermediary company, which on-supplied those workers to two orchards to perform fruit picking and packing between August 2019 and March 2021.

LHA alleges Ms Kien was knowingly concerned in, or aided or abetted, the company’s contraventions.

Ms Kien and the director of YCC Workforce later departed Australia to Malaysia. LHA officers were able to locate Ms Kien and YCC Workforce’s director to serve them with documents commencing the legal proceedings against them.

Under the Act, penalties for using or providing unlicensed labour hire services can exceed:

  • $650,000 per contravention for a corporation 
  • $160,000 per contravention for an individual.

Providers that operate without a licence commonly fail to comply with other legal obligations, exposing workers to the risk of exploitation and creating an uneven playing field for compliant businesses.

Victoria’s licensing scheme exists to protect workers from exploitation and improve the transparency and integrity of the industry.

Actions for hosts – protect your business

Hosts can take two quick actions to protect their business and support LHA in working towards a fairer industry for businesses and workers:

Hosts should also include clear and specific expectations of the provider in a written contract, including an obligation to advise of any subcontracting arrangements or changes to their business or licence status.

Hosts should be aware of upcoming changes to the Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018 (Vic), which will empower LHA to prosecute hosts who have engaged unlicensed labour hire indirectly, through an intermediary. These changes are expected to come into effect in mid-2026.

For more information for hosts on how to protect their business when engaging labour hire, visit labourhireauthority.vic.gov.au/host