Companies will be forced to hire Victorian apprentices and buy locally-made uniforms for major public projects under a new regime monitored by a new "Jobs Cop".
The Victorian Local Jobs First Bill, to be introduced to parliament in 2018, will require contractors working on projects worth $20 million or more to use apprentices, trainees, or engineering cadets for at least 10 per cent of total labour hours.
"The fair thing is to make sure Victorian taxpayers' money supports Victorian jobs," Premier Daniel Andrews said on Tuesday.
The bill includes a commissioner to oversee compliance.
And all government agencies will be required to buy locally-manufactured uniforms and personal protective equipment instead of importing overseas goods.
Mr Andrews said the government will talk with industry, unions and workers to develop the bill.
When asked if the regime had the potential to increase project costs, Mr Andrews said there were a number of ways to look at "best value".
"If you look at best-value as simply the number at the bottom of the tender, I don't think that's the way to do it," he said.
"The way to do it is to say best-value is about diversity in the economy, skills in the economy, giving people the opportunity to get a start and have that productive working life.
"These a far more investments in the future than they are costs."
