968                                LAWS OF MARYLAND                        [CH. 568

Equal Pay for Equal Work
55 A.

No employer shall discriminate in any way by paying wages or
salaries in any occupation to employees of one sex at a rate less
than that paid employees of the opposite sex for work of comparable
character or work on the same operations, business or type of work
in the same establishment. This provision applies to all employers of
both men and women in any lawful business, industry, trade or pro-
fession.

Provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall prohibit
a variation in salary or wage rate based upon difference in seniority
or merit increase systems, which do not discriminate on the basis
of sex, or on jobs requiring different skill or ability, different duties
or services performed regularly, or work on different shifts or time
of day.

Provided that an employer who is paying a wage rate differential
in violation of this subtitle shall not, in order to comply with the
provisions of this subtitle, reduce the wage rate of any employee.

55B.

(a)   The term "employee" as used in this subtitle shall mean any
person employed for hire in any lawful business, industry, trade
or profession or in any other lawful enterprise.

(b)  "Employer" includes any person, natural or artificial, acting
directly or indirectly in the interest of any employer in relations
with an employee and shall include the state, county and municipal
governments and their subdivisions? BUT SHALL NOT INCLUDE
ANY EMPLOYER COVERED BY THE FEDERAL EQUAL PAY
ACT OF 1963.

(c)  "Employ" means to engage, suffer or permit to work.

(d)  "Occupation" includes any industry, trade, business or branch
thereof, or any employment or class of employment.

(e)  "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Labor and In-
dustry.

(f)  "Person" includes one or more individuals, partnerships, cor-
porations, associations, legal representatives, trustees, trustees in
bankruptcy or receivers, or voluntary organizations.

(g)  "Wage Rate" means all compensation for employment, in-
cluding accommodations for board, room and other advantages when
such are furnished for the convenience of the employer.

55C.

(a) The Commissioner shall have the power and it shall be his
duty to carry out and administer the provisions of this subtitle.
WHEN HE FIRST HAS REASON TO BELIEVE A VIOLATION
EXISTS UNDER THIS SUBSECTION.

(b) For this purpose, the Commissioner, or his authorized repre-

sentatives, shall have the power to enter the place of employment

of any employer to inspect and copy pay rolls and other employment