Sinamon cafe owner breaks silence after being fined $31k for underpaying ex-worker, failing to pay super
A Perth cafe attacked a former employee and a major industry body after being fined $31,000 in court.
The WA Industrial Magistrates Court ruled at the beginning of the month that Sinamon Cafe owners Dr Ahmed El Sayed Imam and Yan Woon Desiree Hui underpaid a university student and failed to pay her pension.
Sinamon claims the Ministry of Mines has a personal “vendetta” against the business, accusing them of “blaming (Sinamon) just because I constantly expose their corruption and humiliate them online for bullying small businesses.”
“The irony is that these are the people who exploited a staff member who was so desperate for revenge after being fired six years ago,” he said in a statement.
According to the WA Government agency, the former worker testified in court that when she questioned his salary, the couple suggested he find work elsewhere if he was not happy. Wageline’s media release.
A complaint was subsequently lodged with the Department of Local Government, Industrial Regulation and Safety, resulting in an investigation by an industry inspector and subsequent court proceedings.
This was the third time since 2021 that Dr Imam and Ms Hui have faced the WA Industrial Magistrates Court.
In 2021 they were fined $14,300 for obstructing industrial inspectors, and in 2023 the pair were fined more than $89,000 for “willfully” ignoring a court order to turn over employment records.
At the time the $31,000 fine was imposed, Cara Breuder, director of Private Sector Labor Relations, said the penalty reflected the seriousness of the conduct.
“This was a young, vulnerable worker who was struggling to get into university,” Ms Breuder said.
“The hospitality industry is a high-risk industry for underpayments, with a high proportion of young workers and overseas visa workers.
“Sinamon has now been fined more than $135,000 for breaching WA employment laws.
“Repeated non-compliance is particularly concerning.”
