AUGUSTA (AP) — Two Democrats say their bills would target the gender pay gap by restricting a hiring employer from asking for salary history.

The state Department of Labor and retail, innkeepers and restaurant groups oppose the bills.

Bills sponsored by Sens. Cathy Breen and Mark Bryant are set for a work session Thursday.

Breen says her bill would make it a discriminatory employment practice to require disclosure of salary history.

She says the National Partnership for Women and Families finds Maine women earn a median annual wage roughly $10,003 lower than men.

But the Maine State Chamber of Commerce says the bills could encourage litigation and lowballed offers.

The Maine Human Rights Commission says in the last four years it’s received 93 complaints of alleged wage discrimination affected by sex or gender.

Maine State House is the state capitol of the State of Maine in Augusta, Maine, USA.

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augusta, legislature, Maine, politics
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