The operator of popular Sydney cafe Bar Coluzzi has been fined close to $100,000 after an employee was allegedly forced to pay back thousands of dollars in wages as part of a cashback scheme.

The Federal Circuit Court fined Tibor Vertes, who runs the cafe in Darlinghurst $9720 and his company Robit Nominees was penalised a further $87,345.

Robit Nominees had sponsored an Italian cook on a 457 skilled worker visa. She was contracted to work a 40-hour week for an annual salary of $56,000.

Bar Coluzzi in Darlinghurst, Sydney. Credit:Fiona Morris

The court heard she worked 54 hours each week and that Robit Nominees required her to pay back $218 of her weekly wages in cash – a total of $13,952 over a 15-month period between August 2014 until November 2015.