A popular restaurant in the heart of Fremantle and its operator have been fined nearly $22,000 after an employee complained to the Fair Work Ombudsman they had been paid just $200 for 146 hours of work – a rate of $1.36 an hour.

After investigating the claims in August 2019, the ombudsman issued Soma Kitchen and the company’s director, Giancarlo Daniele, with a compliance notice requiring them to calculate and backpay money owed to the employee.

Soma is a Mediterranean family dining favourite just off the port city's cafe strip. After the business and Mr Daniele failed to act on the compliance notice, the Ombudsman decided to pursue the parties in the Federal Circuit Court.

In a September 16 judgement, Federal Circuit Court Judge Christopher Kendall blasted Mr Daniele and Soma for showing “a complete disregard for their legal obligations”.