Todd Patrick Buzza repeatedly underpaid his staff. Credit:Channel Nine

A burger bar operator who repeatedly exploited young and overseas workers has been ordered to pay more than $300,000 in penalties.

Todd Patrick Buzza, who formerly owned and ran Burger Buzz outlets in Brunswick and West Melbourne, was ordered to pay $51,735 and his company Rum Runner Trading Pty Ltd has been penalised an additional $258,495 for underpaying staff for years.

The penalties handed down by Federal Circuit Court followed two separate legal actions by the Fair Work Ombudsman, with judge Suzanne Jones describing Buzza's conduct as “blatant” and “extraordinary”.

The ombudsman launched the first legal action against Buzza and his company in June 2016 after they underpaid seven workers a total of $7113 and refused to comply with compliance notices requiring back-payment.