Indian-origin security official at Oz casino claims 'bullying, racism rife at work place'

Canberra, Feb 26 (ANI): A former Indian-origin security officer who worked at Australia's one of the most popular casinos, has claimed that bullying and racism were rife at her work place and the staff treated "VIP drunks and prostitutes" with kid gloves.

Annika Soraya, 32, claimed that she was driven to despair by the constant taunts over her sexuality and was left shocked at the level of racial abuse she faced while working at The Star casino.

"I was called things like 'yella' and they kept asking me if I wanted to get romantically involved with a female colleague, and when I said it was not any of their business they kept asking why," telegraph.com.au quoted her, as saying.

Soraya claimed that the new recruits were told that 'here at Star City we don't worry about political correctness too much, so I hope you two blokes don't mind if I refer to your mob as Lebs or Lebos.'

She also alleged that during her six-day training course at the casino the term 'grey area' was used to refer to "VIPs and dignitaries" when it came to reprimanding them over being drunk or propositioning prostitutes.

Meanwhile, The Star has denied all charges, saying they would not tolerate the behaviour Soraya has alleged.

"The Star denies any suggestion she was the subject of bullying or intimidating behaviour during her training and no complaint has ever been made until now," the report quoted a spokesman for The Star, as saying.

The Star said Soraya was dismissed in May, 2010, after she "admitted" she had engaged in serious misconduct by making verbal and physical threats, and using offensive and abusive language against an employee of The Star.

Soraya admitted being suspended, then dismissed, but claimed it was due to the "dozens of incidents" of workplace harassment. (ANI)

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