This document provides an abstract for an essay that proposes two social policies to address domestic worker issues in Kuwait and human trafficking in the United States. For Kuwait, the author proposes a "Domestic Workers' Rights Act" that would provide legal protections and a standard wage for domestic workers. For the US, the author argues that high inequality is a root cause of problems like trafficking, and proposes an "Economic Bill of Rights" guaranteeing things like healthcare, education, unemployment protection, and a living wage to reduce inequality and associated social issues. The document reviews literature on social policy approaches and the social issues in each country to support these proposed policies.

1. Running Head: EFFECTIVE SOCIAL POLICY: KUWAIT AND UNITED STATES 1
Effective Social Policy:
Kuwait and the United States
Drew Shawl
SOC 3400
Dr. Strassberg
4-27-14

2. EFFECTIVE SOCIAL POLICY: KUWAT AND UNITED STATES 2
Abstract
The purpose of this essay is to formulate and support two separate social policies to
effectively address both the domestic worker social problem and the human trafficking problem
in the United States (US). Joel Best’s book Social Problems is used as a guideline to effectively
create the social policies. Scott Sernau’s work Global Problems is used to provide factual
support for the social policies. To address the domestic worker social problem I advocate for a
Domestic Workers’ Rights Act. In order to effectively deal with human trafficking in the US, I
argue for an Economic Bill of Rights that would be focus on diminishing inequalities as a way to
reduce crimes like human trafficking. D. Stanley Eitzen provides different works that are
referenced to support my social policies. Other sources are referenced to support my claims.This
essay concludes that they implementation of my proposed social policies would effectively deal
with either social problem.

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Effective Social Policy: Kuwait and United States
Creating new social policies is an important step in solving social problems. Many times
the status quo of social problems is maintained by social policies already in effect. Changing
current social policies is a long process that takes time. A crucial step in policy making is
creating new policies to replace the old. Current policies are ineffective in dealing with the social
problems of domestic workers in Kuwait and human trafficking in the US. In this essay, I
provide two policies that would effectively deal with both the domestic worker social problem in
Kuwait, and the human trafficking problem in the US.
Review of Literature
In this work we look at different sources addressing sociology. Joel Best provides a work
on how claimsmakers are related to the development of social problems, and how social policies
can best address social problems. We reference Scott Sernau’s Global Problems which addresses
global problems and characterizes the route of these problems while comparing different
countries to one another. D. Stanley Eitzen’s Solution to Social Problems provides us with
different examples of how countries try to address social problems. Furthermore the works
Eitzen includes provides support for some of this essay’s claims.
This essay also uses different social scientific works to provide support for the claims
made. Aaserud et al. is referenced in its’ description of domestic workers in Kuwait. The Human
Rights Watch gives us information on domestic workers’ situation in Kuwait. D. Hodge provides
a study on sexual trafficking in the US. V. Esses, P. Brochu, and K. Dickson’s work is
referenced in the role undocumented workers play in the US. Kristen Gregory gives a study on
how treating employees with respect promotes higher productivity. Bruce Western is referenced

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in his comparison of the relationship between inequalities and incarceration rates in the US.
Daniel Rossides argues that the concept of American Exceptionalism is harmful to social
problems. We also use Franklin D. Roosevelt’s 1944 State of the Union Address. Lastly, Jeffery
Beatty and Susan Samuelson are referenced in their work on Business Law in the US.
Making Policy: Kuwait
I believe that there needs to be a workers’ rights act implemented for domestic workers in
Kuwait. It will be called the Domestic Workers’ Rights Act. Domestic workers would receive
legal representation in forming contracts, and their employers would be legally accountable for
upholding contracts with their employee. The act would also create a domestic worker labor
union to represent domestic workers in the Kuwaiti legislative, judiciary and criminal systems.
We will address how this policy should be framed, what provisions should be included, and why
this policy would be most effective for solving the domestic worker social problem.
Framing
In order to make this social policy effective, we will need to focus on how to shape the
policy in a way that the Kuwaiti population and government will accept it. As the domestic
social problem is now, Kuwaiti people have countered claimsmakers by saying domestic workers
are a necessity, and they do not really deserve the same rights as Kuwaiti citizens (Aaserud
2013). This is what Best describes as “dialogue” between the audience and the claimsmakers. In
order to change the populations’ mind, the claimsmakers must analyze the feedback from
dialogue, and reform their claim (Best 2013, Ch. 2). Claimsmakers should reform their claim to
say that giving domestic worker’s rights is economically and socially beneficial.

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One way claimsmakers should frame their argument is to advocate that domestic workers
can help bolster a good domestic economy in Kuwait. Take the example of undocumented
Mexican workers in the United States. While many U.S. citizens argue that undocumented
workers ‘take’ jobs away from U.S. citizens, undocumented workers actually provide a
consumer base. Furthermore, undocumented workers pay into Social Security, but do not receive
anything back (Esses et. al. 2012). This makes undocumented workers beneficial to the U.S.
economy. One provision of the Domestic Workers’ Rights Act will include programs to help
domestic workers assimilate into the Kuwaiti society. This will help domestic to become
consumers, and encourage them to be active members of the society. Given that domestic
workers make up 660,000 of the 2.7 million Kuwait population, Kuwait would greatly benefit
from domestic workers being active members of the economy.
By framing domestic works as an economic advantage, claimsmakers may be able to
bypass some resistance from the Kuwait audience. However, we cannot assume that framing
domestic workers rights as being an economic advantage will create widespread acceptance. Best
says “claimsmakers have to try again and again to achieve widespread attention for their claims;
they must try out claims, assess the audience’s response, revise the claims, and so on, until they
develop a persuasive argument” (Best 2013, p. 46). Since economic benefit may not be enough
to convince the opposition, there needs to be other claims supporting the benefits domestic
workers would have on Kuwait society.
I would also frame the Domestic Workers Right Act as beneficial to the Kuwait society
as a whole. Best says, “Cultural resources are available to be exploited whenever claims are
created” (Best, p. 54). In order for this framework to work, I would focus the cultural resources
that the Kuwaiti people have towards childrearing and necessary household functions. Domestic

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workers often have a role in childrearing. Furthermore, the traditional Kuwaiti family structure
was based on large distant relatives (Aaserud 2013). As the society modernizes and urbanizes,
Kuwaiti children do not receive the same childrearing they traditionally did. Domestic workers
are a viable means to meet childrearing needs. Through regulating domestic workers with the
Domestic Workers Rights Act, there would be high standards set to focus on raising children to
become active members of society and discourage deviance.
If domestic workers are seen as a necessity by Kuwaiti people, receiving good results
should also be a priority. By paying and treating their employees fairly, their employees would
have a better attitude towards their job and work more efficiently. In a study on the importance
of employee satisfaction, Gregory found that treating employees fairly increases their
productivity (Gregory 2011). Since Gregory’s study mainly focused on company jobs in western
society, it does not accurately conclude that treating domestic workers fairly would promote
more efficient work. However, it is still important to realize that being treated fairly can cause
employees to work more efficiently. In order for this particular point to be made, I would have to
study the effects that abuse and mistreatment have on domestic workers’ performance in Kuwait.
Provisions
In order to effectively deal with the domestic worker social problem in Kuwait, it is not
enough to frame the policy effectively. The policy must also accurately deal with the problem.
One of the major issues concerning domestic workers is that they are not given citizenship or
protection under Kuwait law. This allows employers to abuse their workers without any criminal
consequences. Since many Kuwaiti people see domestic workers as lesser (Aaserud 2013), it
would be hard to convince the Kuwaiti people to give full citizenship to domestic workers.

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Instead, the Domestic Workers Right Act should give working rights to domestic workers. These
workers’ rights would protect domestic workers from abuse by giving them legal rights, provide
a standard contract wage, and regulate migrating domestic workers.
Providing legal rights to domestic workers has to be the first step in the Domestic
Workers’ Rights Act. Without legal rights, domestic workers have no protection from their
employers. Under the current Kafala system, domestic workers do not have any legal protections
from their employers. According to the Humans Right Watch, domestic workers who report
abuse by from their employer are ignored due to legal or practical barriers (Walls at Every Turn
2010). The only way to stop abuse is to make employers accountable for their actions. Punishing
employers for abusing domestic workers would not completely stop physical abuse, but it would
give domestic workers power over their own situation.
Next, a standard contract wage should be upheld and enforced. One problem domestic
workers have is that they are dependent on wages from their employer. Often times the wages
given aren’t even enough to live off. By creating a living wage standard for domestic workers,
they would not be as dependent on their employer. However, just setting a standard wage is not
enough because employers may refuse to pay the full amount after entering into the contract
much like they do now. Employers should be legally held to the contract wage so that if they
decide to breach the contract, the domestic worker will still be entitled to the set wage.
Lastly, domestic workers’ migration into Kuwait and other countries must be regulated.
Currently domestic workers migrate to countries like Kuwait because they have little economic
opportunities in their native countries. Domestic workers’ economic desperation allows them to
be exploited. By regulating the migration of domestic workers, exploitation would decrease. In

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order to accomplish this, the Domestic Workers’ Rights Act would need to be accepted by
Kuwait and other countries. Then an office or administration would need to be created. This
administration would receive applications from women seeking employment, and then mediate a
contract between the employer and soon to be domestic worker. Mediation tactics like this are
common practice in many countries. In the United States lawyers are often used in creation of
contracts to protect both parties’ interests (Beatty and Samuelson 2012). While mediation tactics
are not always foolproof, in the domestic workers’ case mediation tactic would still provide legal
protection where there was none.
Addressing Social Problems through Policy Changes
Many of the solutions I have given to address the domestic worker social problem in
Kuwait are based on studies or ideas from Western culture. Western ideas and policies may not
be best suitable for non-western cultures. However, we must recognize the success western
culture has had on societal development. According the Sernau, Singapore, Hong Kong (SAR),
South Korea, and Japan are among the countries that rank above a .800 on the Human
Development Index (HDI) 2010 (Sernau 2012, p. 18). The other ten countries above a .800 are
all Western societies, and they hold the top eight percentages. If Kuwait society continues to
become more modernized and urbanized, they will need to change their policies to address social
problems created by modernization and urbanization like the domestic workers. Western
societies’ attempts to deal with social problems should be used as frame work for Kuwait.
However, Kuwait should not try to create a carbon copy of western societies. Instead, Kuwait
needs to adapt a model that is hybridized to fit Kuwait culture.

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When we look at examples of countries that have hybridized western ideals while
retaining their own culture, Japan seems to stick out. Sernua says, “Japan manages to combine
the Asian graciousness… with the Western sense of efficiency that many have missed” (Sernua
2012, p. 290). Japan has prospered from their combination of western ideas, and is currently the
second largest economy in the world even though China is about to pass them. Sernua continues
to say that many countries are faced with problems brought by advancements in technology, and
“The Japanese technological response has been superb” (Sernua 2012, p. 292). Kuwait should
take into consideration Japan’s successfulness. Furthermore, Kuwait should recognize that with
new challenges coming from modernization and urbanization, it is important to make social
changes. By accepting the Domestic Workers’ Rights Act, Kuwait would be one step closer to a
better society in an ever globalizing, changing, and developing world.
Making Policy: United States
The United States has some of the highest crime rates and poverty rates among Western
societies. The cause to these social problems is high levels of inequalities, and the inability to
deal with social problems. The US has been desensitized to many social problems by the concept
of American Exceptionalism. American Exceptionalism is the idea that American society is
exceptional from all other societies because it is the ‘greatest’ society. Therefore any social
changes will only be for the worse because we are already the greatest society. This concept of
American Exceptionalism is false.
Among Western societies, the US ranks very low in many categories. In a study on
American Exceptionalism, Rossides says, “Exceptionalist ideology… is so powerful that few
Americans are aware that their society leads the developed world in virtually all social

10. EFFECTIVE SOCIAL POLICY: KUWAT AND UNITED STATES 10
pathologies and inefficiencies” (Rossides 2013, p. 23). Among these categories are wealth
distribution, obesity, and domestic violence. Furthermore, the US fails to deal with social
problems. For example, Figure 1.2 of Sernua’s Global Problems, shows that the US spends
money to deal with child poverty and the US still has higher rates of child poverty than other
Western countries (Sernua 2012, Fig 1.2). Dealing with all of these social problems one by one
would take a lot of policy making and deliberation. Instead, policies should focus on macro
issues that cause social problems in the United States.
Macro Problems: Inequalities
Current policies addressing human trafficking in the United States are formed around
intervention. I believe that a more suitable way to effectively address human trafficking in the
US is to deal with the inequalities. The US has the largest inequalities among Western countries
(Americans for Democratic Action 2007). In a study on the relationship between inequalities and
incarceration, Western found that inequalities in employment and education are directly related
to higher incarceration rates (Western, 2007). Since human trafficking is a criminal business that
is a major source of income for organized crime (Hodge 2008), policies should seek to diminish
inequalities as a way to reduce crime. This would be a preventative tactic that seeks to eradicate
crime instead of just dealing with crime.
I propose that in order to deal with inequalities, an Economic Bill of Rights needs to be
implemented. In US history, an Economic Bill of Rights is not unheard of. President Franklin D.
Roosevelt (FDR) proposed an Economic Bill of Rights to Congress in the 1944 State of the
Union Address. The bill included:

11. EFFECTIVE SOCIAL POLICY: KUWAT AND UNITED STATES 11
The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or
farms or mines of the nation (1); The right to earn enough to provide adequate
food and clothing and recreation (2); The right of every farmer to raise and sell
his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living (3);
The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of
freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or
abroad (4); The right of every family to a decent home (5); The right to adequate
medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health (6); The right
to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and
unemployment (7); The right to a good education (8) (Franklin D. Roosevelt).
This example has provided me with the framework to my own Economic Bill of Rights.
My bill will ensure the right to a living wage (2), the right to free and efficient health care
(5), the right to “protection from economic fears of old, age, sickness, accident, and
unemployment” (FDR 7), and the right to free and good education (8).
Assessing Success
First we will look at whether or not the Economic Bill of Rights would be successful in
dealing with social problems. We will focus on poverty and inequalities. Many other Western
societies have implemented social programs similar to my proposed Economic Bill of Rights,
and they have experienced success in dealing with social problems like poverty and inequalities.
For example, we look at the Republic of Ireland. In Ryan’s’ How Other Countries Fight the War
on Poverty, he says the places with the best “socio-economic model that benefits the majority of
citizens and where poverty rates are lowest” are Scandinavian countries (Ryan 2007, p. 40).

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The Scandinavian model is characterized by a living wage, low taxes for low incomes,
increased child care, housing and heat subsidies, and more workers’ training programs. The
Scandinavian model shares many of the same principles my Economic Bill of Rights. Ireland
implemented a type of the Scandinavian model. The results of having such a model are “greater
social cohesion, equality of opportunity and poverty rates are lower” (Ryan 2007, p. 41). This
example shows that giving economic rights to people helps the society in many social areas like
poverty.
Next we will address how inequalities will be lessened through the Economic Bill of
Rights. According to a Fischer et. al’s comparison of inequalities between countries, the US has
the highest income gap among Western countries (Fischer et. al 1996). The US socio-economic
model is characterized by “low taxes, low unionization rates, for-profit health care, low
minimum wage rates, and great income disparity” (Ryan 2007, p. 41) This current model has
only increased inequalities in the US. The Economic Bill of Rights would reduce inequalities
because by changing the current socio-economic model into one that actually produces results
like the other Western countries’ socio-economic models. Through reducing poverty and
inequalities, crime would be reduced. Since human trafficking part of crime, human trafficking
would most likely also be reduced.
Conclusion
The world is becoming more interconnected as globalization booms through
technological advancements. The sharing and spreading of ideas has never been more prominent
than today. Globalization presents us with the chance to advance socially, economically, and
technologically, but it is important that societies effectively deal with the changes caused by

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rapid change. Every culture has similarities and differences, and no culture is superior to another.
We are all humans with basic rights, and realizing this we encourage the spread, adaptation, and
synthesis of new ideas that can help benefit every society.
Works Cited
Aaserud, J. L., Basciano, T., Braunmiller, J., D'Onofrio, M., Flannagan, K., Kalt, B., & Ko, V.
(2013). The Protection of the Rights of Migrant Domestic Workers in a Country of Origin
and a Country of Destination: Case Studies of the Philippines and Kuwait Washington
D.C.: The Johns Hopkins University SAIS. Retrieved February 12, 2014, from
http://www.protectionproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Domestic-Workers-
Report-2013_Electronic-Version.pdf
Americans for Democratic Action. (2010). Income and Wealth Inequality. In D. S. Eitzen & .
(Eds.), Solutions to Social Problems (5th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
Beatty, J. F., & Samuelson, S. S. (2012). Essentials of Business Law (4th ed.). Mason, OH:
Cengage Advantage Books.
Best, J. (2013). Social Problems (Second ed.). New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Esses, V. M., Brochu, P. M., & Dickson, K. R. (2012). Economic Costs, Economic Benefits, and
Attitudes Toward Immigrants and Immigration.Analyses Of Social Issues & Public
Policy, 12(1), 133-137. doi:10.1111/j.1530-2415.2011.01269.x

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Fischer, C. S., Hout, M., Jankowski, M. S., Lucas, S. R., Swidler, A., & Voss, K. (2010).
Inequality Here and There. In D. S. Eitzen (Ed.), Solutions to Social Problems (5th ed.).
Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
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http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=16518.
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<http://www.neumann.edu/academics/divisions/business/journal/review2011/gregory.pdf
>.
Hodge, D. R. (2008). Sexual Trafficking in the United States: A Domestic Problem with
Transnational Dimensions. Social Work, 53(2), 143-152
Human Rights Watch. (2013). Walls At Every Turn: Abuse of Migrant Domestic Workers
through Kuwait’s Sponsorship System. New York, NY: Author. Retrieved February 12,
2014, from http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/kuwait1010webwcover.pdf
Rossides, D. (2013). American Exceptionalism Turned Upside Down. Social Policy, 43(4), 23-
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to Social Problems (5th ed.). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
Western, B. (2007). Mass Imprisonment and Economic Inequality. Social Research, 74(2), 509-
532.