Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker says he plans to sign a bill that would require men and women to be paid equally for comparable work. The Republican told reporters on Monday that he would sign the legislation sometime next week.

Supporters say women are currently paid on average about 82% of what their male counterparts make for comparable work in Massachusetts.

Rick Kidder, President of the New Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce, tells WBSM News while Massachusetts is closer to pay equity than most states, there will be a shift in payroll in many businesses. "That said, obviously what it's going to do is provide some greater transparency on pay," said Kidder. "And it's going to, in fact in some cases, drive some of the cost in doing business up."

The bill attempts to define what constitutes comparable work and also bars employers from asking prospective workers to provide a salary history, though salary information could be offered voluntarily. Kidder says when it comes to defining comparable work, the bill leaves no stone unturned. "It allows for a merit system. It allows for a system that measures earnings by a quantity or quality of production. It allows for a geographical location in which a job is performed. It allows for making differences in education, or training, or experience."

Kidder says he's also pleased to see the bill includes protections for businesses, providing a company with up to three years to rectify wage disparities without fear of a lawsuit, as long as they are in good faith self-evaluating pay practices.

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