AFTER $135k IN PENALTIES, SINAMON FACES FRESH CLAIMS OF UNDERPAYING WORKERS

Perth bakery chain Sinamon is facing fresh Federal Court proceedings alleging breaches involving visa holder workers, employment records and a Fair Work inspector who was allegedly physically blocked from accessing part of a bakery.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced civil proceedings against Sinamon Pty Ltd, current director Yan Woon Desiree Hui and former director Ahmed El Sayed Imam, also known as A Mido or Abarai Mido.

Sinamon operates bakeries in Victoria Park, Mount Lawley and Fremantle. It previously operated at Curtin University’s Bentley campus.

The latest case follows three previous WA court actions in which Hui and Imam received penalties totalling more than $135,000 for breaches of State employment laws.

THE PREVIOUS PENALTIES

In 2022, Hui and Imam were penalised a combined $14,300 after failing to provide employment records requested by State industrial inspectors.

Imam was penalised for failing to comply with two notices to produce records. Hui was penalised for failing to comply with another notice and obstructing an inspector. She had told inspectors she was an employee rather than an owner.

In 2023, the pair pleaded guilty to failing to obey court orders requiring them to produce the records. They were fined a combined $89,800 and ordered to pay prosecution costs.

The court found their failure to comply was conscious and deliberate.

In 2025, Hui and Imam were penalised a further $31,000 for underpaying a young university student, failing to pay her superannuation and failing to maintain required employment records.

The Industrial Magistrates Court also ordered the payment of $2,739.33 in unpaid wages, $931.47 in superannuation and $1,240.03 in interest.

The court found the worker had been underpaid throughout her employment and said the pair had shown a “blatant disregard” for the regulatory system and their obligations as employers.

THE NEW ALLEGATIONS

The latest proceedings concern two visa holder workers and several interactions with Fair Work inspectors between 2022 and 2024.

The Fair Work Ombudsman alleges Hui intentionally blocked an inspector during an unannounced visit to Sinamon’s Victoria Park bakery in October 2022.

According to the regulator, Hui allegedly stood in front of the inspector and physically prevented access to a back office, despite being cautioned about obstructing an investigation.

The regulator also alleges Imam misrepresented the workplace rights of a visa holder who worked 33 hours at Sinamon’s former Curtin University outlet in 2023.

When the worker sought payment, Imam allegedly claimed Sinamon could deduct money from the wages because the worker’s sudden departure had damaged the business.

Further allegations include:

• •failing to comply with a notice issued after an inspector formed the view that two visa holders had been underpaid;
• •failing to provide employment records covering one worker and other employees over a four month period; and
• •breaching record keeping and payslip requirements.

The regulator is seeking financial penalties and an order requiring Sinamon to calculate and pay any outstanding wages, superannuation and interest.

Sinamon faces maximum penalties of up to $93,900 for each alleged contravention. Hui and Imam each face maximum penalties of up to $18,780 per alleged contravention. Those figures are possible maximums, not penalties that have already been imposed.

A directions hearing was listed in Perth on 04 September 2026.

The case raises an obvious question: after three previous enforcement actions and more than $135K in penalties, what changed inside the business, and why does the workplace regulator say it has again been forced to take court action?