Top Thai golf course drops plan to dump short, fat caddies

Link : http://uk.news.yahoo.com/041106/323/f63qb.html

BANGKOK (AFP) - Women caddies have emerged victorious after one of Thailand's most elite golf courses dropped its threat to dump those who were too short or fat, according to a labour group.

Pinehurst Golf and Country Club backed down after protests from hundreds of women complaining of a beautification campaign among the 700 caddies that haul the clubs of wealthy players around the course near Bangkok.

Caddies were furious that management led by owner Komol Jungrungreangkit, the brother of Thailand's transport minister, had required that weekday caddies be under 45 years of age, at least 151 centimetres (five feet) tall and svelte.

The management had claimed that some caddies were too fat to walk the course or too short to hold umbrellas over the heads of players to protect them from the sun.

The course management agreed to drop most of the plan at a meeting Friday with caddies' representatives and labour officials, Pratueng Saengsank, president of the Labour Congress of Thailand, told AFP.

Caddies aged over 45 must still resign by the end of 2005 with a pay-off of up to 2,500 baht (61 US dollars) for every year worked, he said.

"Caddies under 45 will be able to work without any limit on how fat or short they are," he said. "All the caddies were pleased with the agreement."