Sydney - Australia Post came under fire on Monday for banning "porkie posties" after saying it would not hire anyone weighing more than 90kg.
The Communications Workers Union blasted the state-run company, after the weight restriction came to light in a recent recruitment advertisement.
The postal service denied it was discriminating against those of fuller figure, however, and said it was merely complying with health and safety laws.
Spokeswoman Lea Jaensch said that the 110cc motorbikes used by the postal service could only carry 130kg in weight.
Once 25kg had been allowed for the mail, and another 15kg for a special device to stop the bike tipping over, that left only 90kg for the driver.
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"No one will lose their job if they weigh 90,5kg," she said.
"But if you put on 15kg you will be redeployed within the service to do mail sorting activities."
She said Australia Post, which employs 9 500 postal delivery workers - known here as "posties" - had several healthy eating and lifestyle programmes to help workers lose weight.
"We need to ensure that when we hire people they can utilise the equipment," Jaensch said.
"We cannot have people breaching occupational health and safety requirements out on the road."
Local media pounced on the restriction, however, with the Daily Telegraph newspaper headlining its story "Porky Postie Ban". - Sapa-AFP
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