The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word INDENTURES
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
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More clues leading to the result INDENTURES
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Agreements to work" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case agreements to work = indentures.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does INDENTURES mean?
INDENTURES noun- A contract which binds a person to work for another, under specified conditions, for a specified time (often as an apprentice).
- A document, written as duplicates separated by indentations, specifying such a contract.
- An indentation.