Having the right people for the right job in Sydney is important. A booming construction industry is creating a demand for highly skilled labour that must be available now. If you’re a project manager needing a crew for a small job in the suburbs, or need many people for a big project in the city, you need to know that the people you hire are the best trained and qualified and will be with you until the project’s end.

If you’re in the construction or labour industry and you’re looking for work, you would have similar queries as to project managers. You want to attach yourself to a company that has a good reputation, completes work on time and will pay employees fairly.

As with all good projects, a solid list to check things off is important. Here we will give you the nine key points to consider when choosing the right labour hire agency (LHA) for your construction projects in Sydney.

1.    Experience in the Labour Hire Industry

This is arguably the most important factor when choosing the right labour hire agency. You want reassurance that your job will be completed by a company whom you can trust and rely on for the quality of work and quality of worker.

As a potential contractor, if you’re new to the industry, finding a company with experience can mean great mentorship and a chance for you to grow. If you’ve got years under your belt, then you know with confidence that you’ll slot into a well-oiled machine of a company.

• Look for reviews and testimonials. Search online for what people are saying about the company. Are there Google reviews, or client testimonials on their website?
• Examples of their work. Can you see previous jobs they’ve completed? Photographic evidence or even video evidence showing the quality of work?
• Who do they have working for them? Can you contact the people in charge? Are there profiles you can view so it isn’t a faceless organisation?

You want that feeling that when you engage with a labour hire agency they know what they’re doing and what they’re talking about. Interview them, ask the questions to make you feel comfortable.

2.    Compliance and Safety Standards

The construction industry can be a dangerous place, but if your business and workers are compliant and follow the safety regulations you can drastically limit the risks and dangers.

• Does the LHA follow standards set out by Safe Work NSW? There are official standards for safety, set by the state and federal governments, that LHA’s must comply with. Ask the questions, read the documentation available online, do your due diligence.
• Carry valid licences? For the work to be done, do the employees have valid licences? Are they qualified electricians or plumbers, for example.
• Documented safety induction programs. For all new employees of a LHA you want to ensure they are inducted properly and thoroughly, and such a process is compliant with appropriate laws and regulations.

3.    Clearly stated Labour Hire Rates

Both for project officers and those looking to work with a LHA, you want to know hourly rates of pay, daily rates to charge and so forth.

• Industry competitive rates of pay. Do you know what the hourly or daily rates of pay are for general labourers or specialised workers? As a contractor, do you know what to get paid fairly? If you’re the project manager knowing the daily rates of pay beforehand can help with budgeting. Don’t always look at hiring the cheapest, because as they say- you get what you pay for.

4.    Availability and Flexibility

The success of your project depends on the availability of the labour force you’re hiring. You need solid dates of engagement so you can move the project forward. If a labour hire agency tells you they will be available in a month’s time, then you need to know they will stick to that timeline, not run over-time and be unavailable to start work. This can cost you significant amounts of money.

• Negotiate a start time between your project and the LHA. Include clauses if that start date cannot be met, by either party.
• Flexibility. Sometimes projects suffer delays, or need more work than previously thought. Can your LHA adapt to new work and conditions, and pivot to meet these demands?

5.    Worker Quality and Skill Sets

Does the LHA you’re looking into have the workers with the right skillset for your project?

• For all the work that you need doing, are there available workers with the proper qualifications? Bricklayers, carpenters and electricians all need valid qualifications to work for you.
• Structured on-boarding process. Does the LHA have a structured on-boarding process to bring the right people on board, and to properly vet those who apply to work with them?

Ask to see qualifications and documentation. For insurance reasons alone, this element of how to choose a Labour hire agency is important.

6.    Specialist Support

If your project has unique requirements, does the LHA have the labourers to support you?

• What specialist roles do you require? Do you need Civil Engineers, demolition and excavation?
• Project Management. Does the Labour hire agency have skilled workers for white-collar roles as well as the hands on tools jobs?

7.    Client Testimonials and Reputation

Knowing what other people think of a labour hire agency is important. There are many financial decisions we won’t make without reading reviews and client testimonials. Is this LHA a good place to work for? Are they a reputable company to hire?

Do your research and don’t be afraid to ask them questions. But also understand that people are more ready to give a bad review than a good review, so take it all with an educated grain of salt.

8.    Coverage across Sydney

Can the labour hire agency you’re looking into work where you need them? If they’re based out in the Western Suburbs, can they realistically help you down in Cronulla? Are they available to work regional if you need them?

If you’re working with a LHA and you’ve accepted a job that is a distance to travel, ensure you give yourself plenty of time to arrive on time.

9.    Communication and Transparency

Possibly the most vital ingredient when choosing a LHA is their communication skills.

• Clear understanding. Can you communicate your project’s needs and parameters, and can the LHA understand them?
• Clear process and documentation. Is it easy to understand how the LHA will go about working with you and completing the project? Is there documentation to back this up and hold people accountable?
• Are you readily available if the labour hire agency or Project Manager has questions? Is the LHA available to you if you have enquiries?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Knowledge is power and the more that both parties know and understand the better the project will be. Clear channels of communication and understanding can prevent a lot of complications and frustrations for everyone involved.

King Long Labour Hire have a strong leadership team, great contractors on board and a sold portfolio of work to back them up. We provide labour hire and machine operators for jobs large and small. Speak to our guys and find out how King Kong Labour Hire can make your construction or civil project a raging success.