A media company has been fined $272,850 for allegedly disguising employees as unpaid interns.

Judge Tom Altobelli imposed the penalty against Sydney-based AIMG BQ Pty Ltd in the Federal Circuit Court following a Fair Work Ombudsman investigation and legal action.

The company, linked to the Ostar International Media Group, runs Chinese-language websites and publications for Australia's Chinese community, including the Oriental BQ Weekly.

Company director Zhao Qing Jiang was also fined $8160 for his failure to comply with a notice to produce documents to Fair Work inspectors. A three-year injunction has been imposed on him to prevent further breaches of workplace laws.