Promoting written employment contracts: evidence from a randomised awareness campaign

Written employment contracts may improve the conditions of agricultural workers in developing countries, but farmers as employers often prefer less formal oral arrangements. We evaluate whether farmers' preferences, which are deeply rooted in traditional norms, can be influenced through a group awareness campaign. In a randomised experiment in Cote d'Ivoire, we show that such a campaign increases farmers' preferences for written contracts and for contract features involving social benefits for workers. The campaign also increases farmers' likelihood to initiate concrete steps towards signing a contract with their workers. We conclude that group-based interventions can change farmers' traditional views about employment relations.

Automated summary

The study shows that group awareness campaigns can change farmers' preferences for written employment contracts and for contract features related to social benefits for workers. This intervention also increases the likelihood of farmers taking concrete steps towards signing a contract with their workers, indicating a shift in traditional views on employment relations.