Corrections Victoria confirmed that some prisoners had refused to work but declined to reveal how many prisoners had taken part.

A Corrections Victoria spokesman said Barwon Prison had moved to a new prisoner employment arrangements that now matched other prisons.

"This is the culmination of a lengthy process across the prison system," he said.

"Some Barwon prisoners have refused to work, but this has been managed without incident."

He said all sentenced prisoners in Victoria, apart from those unable to work, were required to be employed.

Some of Victoria's most notorious criminals are housed at Barwon, including drug bosses Tony Mokbel, Pasquale Barbaro and Frank Madafferi.

Matthew Johnson, the man who killed crime lord Carl Williams in Barwon, is also still incarcerated there.

Corrections Minister Steve Herbert said he had been briefed by prison management and he was confident the situation was under control.

"At the end of the day it is a prison it's not an industrial workplace," he said.

Opposition Corrections spokesman Edward O'Donohue said the government needed to show leadership and rectify systemic problems in Victoria's prison network.

He said it was crucial that prisoners spent time working or undergoing education.