Café at Crown Casino slugged with $250k fine for underpaying of staff

Cafe Baci at Crown Casino has been slugged with a quarter of a million dollars fine for underpaying 54 workers.

Ital One Holdings Pty Ltd was fined $217,000 and its director, Len Di Pietro, fined $40,000 for underpayments at the Southbank café in 2015 and 2016.

Judge Heather Riley described the company's conduct as "particularly egregious" as the court had previously found it broke workplace laws on three similar occasions.

"The respondents have shown no remorse but sought to minimise their behaviour with complaints of being busy," she said.

"The need for general deterrence is a significant factor in this matter, given the level of disputes in the cafe and restaurant sector, and the vulnerability of many of the employees in that industry,"

The company had been investigated by the Fair Work Ombudsman for underpaying 54 workers a combined $73,347 through its use of flat rates.

The affected employees, who worked as waiters, kitchen hands, chefs and in other roles, included 25 people from countries including France, Italy and India, mainly on student and 417 working holiday visas.

"We have no tolerance for an employer that fails to act on our advice, particularly where a court has previously ordered that same employer to back-pay workers," Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker said.