Workforce Inspectorate Victoria completed 55 investigations in 2025-26
Workforce Inspectorate Victoria helped recover nearly $1.7 million in long service leave entitlements during 2025-26. The money went to 320 Victorian workers, who recouped an average of $5,309 each.
The agency completed 55 long service leave investigations across the year. It also handled more than 8,000 enquiries through frontline services, including 7,051 calls and 1,174 non-call enquiries.
Public awareness work ran alongside those cases. Workforce Inspectorate Victoria generated 470 news media stories, reached an estimated audience of 11.3 million through traditional media and recorded more than 13 million social media impressions, plus 1,502 engagements.
Acting commissioner Lily Dekic said the results showed the agency’s reach. “Recovering nearly $1.7 million in long service leave entitlements and supporting thousands of Victorians through our frontline services shows the real impact of our work,” she said.
Child employment audits and court cases
Beyond long service leave, the inspectorate continued to regulate child employment across Victoria. It issued 696 new child employment licences and reported 1,707 employers with active licences, allowing 4,641 children to work.
Compliance activity also covered other sectors. The inspectorate completed 53 audits of owner-driver and forestry contractor obligations, while child employment work included 234 audits and investigations.
In construction, a complaints pathway started in December 2025. Since then, the Constructions Complaints Referral Service has led to 79 complaints being referred to relevant agencies and organisations.
Finalised court proceedings in 2025-26 included prosecutions against Transurban Limited, the Apollo Bay Fishermen’s Co-Operative, Romlik Pty Ltd and TJ & CJ Forder Pty Ltd.
Dekic said the inspectorate used several tools to police workplace rules and inform employers. She said education, engagement and compliance activity were helping create fair, safe and productive workplaces across Victoria.
Workforce Inspectorate Victoria did not disclose the individual amounts recovered from each employer, the industries involved in the 55 long service leave investigations or the outcomes of the 79 referred construction complaints.
