Picture this: Social distance and the mistreatment of migrant workers

Toman Barsbai, Vojtěch Bartoš, Victoria S. Licuanan, Andreas Steinmayr, Erwin R. Tiongson and Dean Yang

No 2237, Kiel Working Papers from Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel)

Abstract: We experimentally study an intervention to reduce mistreatment of Filipino overseas domestic workers (DWs) by their employers. Encouraging DWs to show their employers a family photo while providing a small gift when starting employment reduced DW mistreatment, increased their job satisfaction, and increased the likelihood of contract extension. While generally unaware of the intervention, DWs' families staying behind become more positive about international labor migration. An online experiment with potential employers suggests that the effect operates through a reduction in employers' perceived social distance from their employees. A simple intervention can protect migrant workers without requiring destination country policy reforms.

Keywords: temporary labor migration; working conditions; contract enforcement; dictator game (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D9 J61 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp, nep-lab and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/268254/1/1830226525.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Working Paper: Picture This: Social Distance and the Mistreatment of Migrant Workers (2022)
Working Paper: Picture This: Social Distance and the Mistreatment of Migrant Workers (2022)
Working Paper: Picture This: Social Distance and the Mistreatment of Migrant Workers (2022)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:ifwkwp:2237

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