Hand over knotted laces and cuffs (8)
I believe the answer is:
manacles
'cuffs' is the definition.
(I know this)
'hand over knotted laces' is the wordplay.
'hand' becomes 'man' (both can mean a worker).
'over' says to put letters next to each other.
'knotted' indicates anagramming the letters.
'laces' is an anagram of 'acles'.
'man'+'acles'='MANACLES'
'and' is the link.
(Other definitions for manacles that I've seen before include "Shackles for the wrist" , "chains" , "Handcuffs" , "Fetters for the hands" .)