Meat Industry Labour Agreement and the Visa 186: 2025 Picture

The meat industry and its particular workforce needs

Australia’s meat processing industry has long faced a shortage of skilled labour, particularly at abattoirs and meat processing facilities in rural and remote areas. The work requires specialised skills, the conditions are demanding, and the sites are often in areas that struggle to attract local workers.

To address this, the Meat Industry Labour Agreement (MILA) allows facilities in the industry to access overseas workers through visa pathways with more flexible conditions, including the Visa 186.

Occupations covered

The Meat Industry Labour Agreement mainly covers higher-skilled positions on the meat processing line:

• Boner — a deboning specialist, regarded as the highest skill level in the industry.
• Slicer — cutting and grading meat to export standard.
• Some other positions depending on the agreement, such as a line supervisor or quality technician.

These positions usually fall under ANZSCO codes in the “Meat Packer”, “Slaughterer” or “Boner and Slicer” groups and require real, documented work experience.

Conditions relaxed compared with the standard

Compared with the standard Visa 186, the MILA usually allows:

Relaxed English: the English requirement is often adjusted below the standard vocational English level. However, the exact level depends on the specific agreement the DHA has signed with the recruiting facility.

Specific salary settings: some MILA agreements set a minimum salary negotiated to match the industry’s Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA), rather than the standard Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT).

No formal skills assessment required: unlike many other occupations, meat industry skills are often proven through real work experience and an employer confirmation letter, not necessarily through an independent skills assessing authority.

Geography: mainly regional areas

Most meat processing facilities with a MILA are concentrated in:

• Queensland: towns such as Rockhampton, Townsville, Mackay and the Darling Downs region.
• Western Australia: the South West and Mid West regions.
• Victoria and New South Wales: rural areas with strong livestock activity.

A regional location brings some additional benefits: workers in rural or remote areas may qualify for regional points in other visa pathways in the future.

Connection with the TRT stream

Many meat industry workers start on a Visa 482 (TSS) sponsored by a meat processing facility with a Labour Agreement. After completing 2 yearsPending verification of work on a Visa 482 (or a 457 previously), they may move to a Visa 186 through the Temporary Residence Transition (TRT) stream, often with the English and salary conditions set by the Labour Agreement.

The 482 → 186 TRT route through a Labour Agreement is one of the most realistic pathways for meat industry workers already in Australia.

The picture in 2025

As of 2025, the Meat Industry Labour Agreement remains an important recruitment tool for the industry, but:

• Limited number of agreements: not every abattoir has a MILA. Only facilities that have applied and been approved by the DHA can use this mechanism.
• Higher compliance pressure: the DHA has stepped up monitoring of working conditions and labour rights compliance in the industry, following some reported breaches in earlier years.
• Time to negotiate a new agreement: new facilities wanting a MILA should factor in negotiation time with the DHA, which can take from 6 months to over a year.

How workers can approach this pathway

Workers interested in this route should:

1. Research meat processing facilities that have a MILA and are recruiting.
2. Confirm the Labour Agreement is still current and check the specific terms.
3. Prepare detailed work experience records (usually 2–3 years of experience in the trade).
4. Consult a migration agent familiar with Labour Agreements before signing an employment contract.