What type of law prohibits employers from inquiring about an applicant's previous salary history?

The correct answer pertains to pay equity laws, which are designed to address and rectify wage disparities based on gender, race, or other factors. By prohibiting employers from asking about an applicant's previous salary history, these laws aim to break the cycle of wage discrimination, ensuring that individuals are compensated based on their qualifications and the requirements of the position rather than their past pay. This approach helps create a more equitable hiring process and promotes fairness in compensation.

While wage and hour laws address issues related to the payment of wages and working hours, they do not specifically focus on salary history inquiries. Anti-harassment laws are primarily concerned with creating a workplace free from harassment and do not address salary history. Anti-discrimination laws seek to prevent discrimination based on various factors, but they do not directly prohibit inquiries into previous salaries as pay equity laws do. Therefore, pay equity laws are specifically designed to eliminate barriers to equal pay and align with the prohibition of asking about salary history.