Growing Awareness to Reduce Labor Abuse: An Experimental Test of a Migrant Domestic Workers’ Rights Awareness Campaign

Margaret L. Boittin, Cecilia Hyunjung Mo, Biz Herman, Sarah Rich-Zendel and Soosun You

Journal of Law and Economics, 2026, vol. 69, issue 2, 213 - 249

Abstract: Migrant domestic workers (MDWs) are highly vulnerable to labor abuse. Using a survey and randomized controlled trial conducted in Hong Kong, this study investigates MDWs’ labor experiences and the potential of rights awareness campaigns to mitigate labor abuse. The campaigns increased public knowledge of MDWs’ rights and reduced the social acceptability of MDWs’ mistreatment. To the extent that improving knowledge about MDWs’ rights and decreasing acceptance of mistreatment affect the behaviors of employers and others who can support MDWs, rights awareness campaigns can help reduce labor abuse. However, the campaigns had limited impact on MDWs, who demonstrated high awareness of their rights but often experienced concerning levels of abuse and regarded mistreatment as an unavoidable aspect of their employment. These differences highlight the constrained agency of MDWs to independently improve their labor conditions and emphasize the value of rights awareness initiatives targeting employers of MDWs and the general public.

Date: 2026
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