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Italian woman 'too fat' for bakery job

Patrick Browne
Patrick Browne - [email protected]
Italian woman 'too fat' for bakery job
The woman was turned down for a job in a bakery because she was overweight. Photo: Kayla Nichole

An Italian woman has claimed she was turned down for a job at a bakery in Latina, Lazio, because she is "too fat".

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Dalila, a 29-year-old mother of two, told Il Messaggero that the manager of the shop sent her a message on Facebook telling her she was too overweight for the position.

She recently had an interview for the role after being contacted by an employment agency.

During the two hour interview, she said she met the bakery's owner, with whom she left a copy of her passport, and also manned the ovens – proving she had experience.

Dalila was then invited back the following week for a paid trial period. 

But a couple of days later, she received a message from the manager saying she would not be hired.

“I'm sorry, but you're too fat to work in the bakery,” the message allegedly said.

“Your physical appearance is not well-suited for the job, which requires two slim people to stand behind the counter and move at the same time.”

Dalila, who currently weighs 100kg, said she gained weight following her two pregnancies.

She began looking for a job after her partner lost his, so that she could provide for their two sons.

She thought her luck was in when she went for the bakery role but her hopes were dashed in a cruel and cold-hearted way.

“When I read the message, I cried,” she told the newspaper.

“What upsets me is that I've been rejected because of my physical appearance and not for my ability or professionalism.”

Dalila has had several jobs over the last 10 years, including working as a cleaner and with both Findus, the frozen food company, and the fast-food chain McDonald's.

She said the rejection is a form of prejudice.

“I want to defend women from a certain kind of discrimination,” she said.

“The only reason I'm carrying a few extra pounds is because I chose to become a mother.”

She could not be reached for comment when contacted by The Local, while the name of the bakery was not included in the story by Il Messaggero.

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