Meat Industry Labour Agreement (MILA): How Australian Meat Processors Sponsor Overseas Boners, Slicers and Slaughterers in 2026
Yes, Australian meat processors can sponsor overseas boners, slicers and slaughterers to work in Australia, even though these roles are not on the standard Core Skills Occupation List. The pathway is a Meat Industry Labour Agreement (MILA): a formal agreement between an employer and the Department of Home Affairs that allows sponsorship of skilled meat-processing workers on a subclass 482 (Skills in Demand) visa. Australian Career Pathways matches pre-vetted overseas meat workers with employers who hold, or want to set up, a MILA, and manages the process from start to finish.
What is a Meat Industry Labour Agreement?
The Australian meat processing industry has faced chronic labour shortages for years. Because core knife-hand roles such as boner, slicer and slaughterer are not on the standard occupation list used for the 482 Core Skills stream, employers cannot sponsor them through the normal pathway. The Meat Industry Labour Agreement fills that gap. It is a template labour agreement that lets approved meat employers sponsor overseas workers in these roles, often with concessions on English, salary or experience that reflect the realities of the industry.
Which meat roles can be sponsored?
- Boner and Slicer (knife hands)
- Slaughterer / slaughter person
- Meat process worker and related production roles
These sit outside the standard 482 occupation list, which is exactly why the MILA exists. Note that a Butcher or Smallgoods Maker is on the standard Core Skills Occupation List and can usually be sponsored through the ordinary 482 pathway without a labour agreement.
Requirements in 2026
- English: the 482 Core Skills benchmark is IELTS 5.0 in each band (or an accepted equivalent). A MILA can allow an English concession for eligible roles.
- Experience: relevant, recent hands-on meat-processing experience. Skills can be confirmed through a formal assessment.
- Salary: the worker must be paid at least the Core Skills Income Threshold, which is $79,499 from 1 July 2026, or the market rate for the role, whichever is higher. A labour agreement may allow a salary concession in defined cases.
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How employers sponsor overseas meat workers
For an Australian meatworks, the process is simpler than it sounds when you have a partner who does the heavy lifting. Australian Career Pathways maintains a pool of pre-vetted overseas boners, slicers and slaughterers who are ready to start, and supports employers through the labour agreement and visa steps. Our service to employers includes pre-vetted candidate profiles with intro videos, end-to-end visa lodgement, soft-landing relocation support, no placement fee for the worker, and a three-month replacement guarantee.
See how we help employers hire meat workers
For workers: are you eligible?
If you are an experienced boner, slicer or slaughterer overseas and you want to work in Australia, a MILA employer is your pathway. You will generally need genuine meat-processing experience and functional English. Australian Career Pathways can assess you against the published criteria, prepare you through English and skills training, and match you with an Australian employer who sponsors.
Frequently asked questions
Can a boner or slaughterer get a 482 visa in Australia?
Yes, but not through the standard occupation list. These roles are sponsored under a Meat Industry Labour Agreement, which lets approved meat employers nominate overseas knife-hand workers on a subclass 482 visa.
What English score is needed?
The Core Skills benchmark is IELTS 5.0 in each band or an accepted equivalent. A labour agreement can allow an English concession for eligible meat-industry roles.
What salary must the employer pay?
At least the Core Skills Income Threshold ($79,499 from 1 July 2026) or the market rate, whichever is higher, unless a labour agreement concession applies.
Does the employer need their own labour agreement?
Yes. The sponsoring meat employer must hold a Meat Industry Labour Agreement. Australian Career Pathways works with employers who already hold one and can guide those setting one up.
General information based on published Department of Home Affairs criteria as at July 2026. This is not immigration assistance within the meaning of s276 of the Migration Act 1958. For advice on your situation, consult a registered migration agent (mara.gov.au).