Such difficulties are likely to get worse towards the end of the year, when companies traditionally try to settle accounts with employees.

ECONOMIST: Unpaid wages in China

On Thursday, when Francis returned to his former living quarters to collect his bags and settle accounts, his actions inspired tears of staff members as the pontiff remembered names of employees and inquired into the well-being of their families.

WSJ: Vatican Says Pope Allegations Have No Merit

The Long Island broker has agreed to settle charges being brought against him regarding his management of two investment accounts belonging to the Sisters of Charity of New York.

FORBES: Bad Habits: Broker Settles Nun-Defrauding Charges

But it was also criticised last year by MPs on the public accounts committee for supposedly cutting "cosy" deals to settle the complicated tax affairs of big companies such as Vodafone and Goldman Sachs.

BBC: HMRC hails three tax avoidance victories