Tobacco giant Philip Morris has admitted that child workers have been subjected to long hours working on Kazakhstan tobacco farms it deals with.

Waihi gold miners have accused their Australian employer of Victorian work practices by making them take their breaks underground during 11-hour shifts.

The New Zealand dollar may be little changed over the next five days after a 3.2pc surge last week took it above 71 US cents for the first time in a fortnight.

New Zealand businesses remain positive about hiring staff but are seeking a higher percentage of contract workers.

The NZ dollar peeked above US71c for the first time since late June as good economic data from the US and Australia restored faith in the global economic recovery.

More than 80 per cent of New Zealanders believe we are increasingly adopting a more casual approach to our workplace attire.

Kate Ross: It really is a candidate market; candidates are determining what, where and how much.

At the age of three Fonterra's supply chain boss was sucked into a fuel pump - now safety is top of his list.

Californians don't see much evidence of the recession coming to an end anytime soon.

Perhaps it is our fascination with those on television, or with the fourth estate, but it really is quite amazing how often those involved in the news become the news.