A FILIPINO who uses water instead of toilet paper says he was sacked for his ?un-Australian? toilet habits.

Amador Bernabe, 43, a machine operator in Townsville on a working visa, said his foreman followed him into the bathrooms questioning his toilet hygiene, the Townsville Bulletin reports.

Bernabe said his employer, Townsville Engineering Industries, sacked him last week for not going to the toilet the Australian way.

?I went to go to the toilet and I took a bottle of water when my foreman saw me and he said, ?you can?t bring the water in there?,? Bernabe was quoted as saying.

The foreman followed Bernabe into the toilet despite his protests.

?I said it?s my personal hygiene. I didn?t break any law, I didn?t break any rules of the company, why can?t I do this, and he said he would report me to the manager.?

The next day, Bernabe says he was called into the manager?s office.

?He asked me what had happened and I explained to him and he said if I didn?t follow the Australian way I would be immediately terminated and I said ?sir, then you better terminate me?.?

The Townsville Bulletin reported that the incident had angered union bosses and politicians on the Australia Day weekend.

Australian Manufacturing Worker?s Union state organizer Rick Finch said the incident was shocking.

?I think it is atrocious, an invasion of a person?s rights and cultural beliefs,? he told the Bulletin.

?If it wasn?t so disgusting it would almost be laughable.?

Greens spokesman Jenny Stirling praised Bernabe for standing up for his rights.

?I commend the man for standing up for himself and I encourage the employer to have further talks with the union and the employee and I am sure commonsense will prevail,? she said.

?I would like to see how Australians feel when they go to Europe where in places they don?t have toilet paper.?

But TEI denied firing Bernabe.

Company manager Byron Carter said Bernabe?s toilet habits had posed a ?serious health risk? to his other employees and he had been counseled a number of times about the issue.

Carter said health and hygiene issues had been raised by other staff members.

?The issue concerning Mr. Bernabe is not about toilet etiquette, it is about hygiene and the health of other employees,? he said.

?Mr. Bernabe?s technique to cleanse himself with water after his toiletry visits leaves the toilet cubicle splashed with water suspected to be contaminated with feces and wet soggy toilet paper lying on the floor.

?Other employees complain about the mess and the possible spread of disease and will not use the cubicles until they are cleaned and disinfected.?

Carter denied Bernabe was sacked.

?Mr. Bernabe was given the opportunity to clean up his toiletry habits or he would be terminated. He was told the choice was his,? he said.

?After a heated discussion with the workshop foreman, Mr. Bernabe left his place of work without notice and has not been back to work.?

Carter said the problem was an ongoing issue.

?Contrary to Mr. Bernabe?s statement that he had no problems until yesterday [Friday], he had been counseled a number of times about his toiletry habits,? he said.

?On one occasion he was instructed to clean out the mess he made in the toilet cubicle as it was not acceptable to leave it in such a state. On a number of occasions Mr. Bernabe was urged to carry out his toiletry functions in the Australian way in order to prevent contamination of the toilet cubicle and upsetting other users of the facilities.

?The continuation of Mr. Bernabe?s toiletry habits poses an unnecessary health risk to other employees and cannot be accepted.?