The penalty was issued to Zenith Textiles, which operates in Erith, Bexley.
The fine appeared in the government’s quarterly publication covering enforcement action against illegal working for the period between 1 July and 30 September 2025.
While specific details of the individual case have not been disclosed, the inclusion in the report indicates that the business was found to be in breach of right-to-work regulations.
These rules require employers to ensure that all staff have legal permission to work in the UK, with penalties issued where checks are not carried out properly or where illegal working is identified.
Zenith Textiles recycling operations
Zenith Textiles operates as a textile recycling company in the south of England.
Its activities include the collection of a broad range of goods, such as clothing, linens, shoes, toys, books, small electrical items, mobile phones, media and cardboard.
Materials such as clothing, footwear and other bric-a-brac are typically sorted by hand before being exported to a variety of overseas markets.
Letsrecycle.com has reached out to Zenith Textiles for comment.
Immigration law breaches
The case forms part of a wider government effort to tighten compliance with immigration laws across UK industries.
Under current legislation, employers found to be knowingly hiring individuals without the legal right to work can face significant consequences.
These include fines, business sanctions and, in the most serious cases, criminal prosecution leading to prison sentences of up to five years or unlimited financial penalties.
Breaches can arise in several ways, including employing individuals with expired visas, allowing staff to undertake work they are not authorised to perform, or failing to identify false or incorrect documentation.
Businesses may still be held liable if they do not carry out the required right-to-work checks before employment begins.
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