By Liz Lane, Sky News Reporter
Up to one million people, many more than previously thought, could be employed on zero-hours contracts across the UK, new research suggests.
The agreements mean that employees are expected to be on call, but are not guaranteed any work from one week to the next.
The Office for National Statistics recently suggested only 250,000 were on such contracts at the end of last year.
But the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) surveyed 1,000 employers and found one in five use zero-hours contracts for at least one member of staff.
Firms in the voluntary and public sectors, as well as the hotel, leisure and catering industries, are more likely to use them.
CIPD chief executive Peter Cheese said: "Zero-hours contracts are a hot topic and our research suggests they are being used more commonly than the ONS figures would imply.
"However, the assumption that all zero-hours contracts are bad and the suggestion from some quarters that they should be banned should be questioned.
Business Secretary Vince Cable has ordered a review into the practice "Zero-hours contracts, used appropriately, can provide flexibility for employers and employees and can play a positive role in creating more flexible working opportunities. This can, for example, allow parents of young children, carers, students and others to fit work around their home lives.
"However, for some this may be a significant disadvantage where they need more certainty in their working hours and earnings, and we need to ensure that proper support for employees and their rights are not being compromised through such arrangements."
The business secretary Vince Cable told Sky News that while the number of people on zero-hour contracts was "a bit fuzzy" he said he did not believe the CIPD figures reflected a true picture.
He said a Governemnt review, to report in September, would establish what action, if any, was needed though he had concerns about the exclusive nature of some contracts.
"I don't think there is any question of this Government trying to outlaw zero-hours contracts altogether because for many workers, as well as their companies, it's a perfectly sensible arrangement," he said.
But the Unite union said the Government must stop the growth of the zero-hours culture, as these contracts were "the latest attack on workers' rights and dignity".
Separate research among zero-hours contract workers revealed only 14% said their employer failed to give them enough hours to have a basic standard of living.
Sarah Wicks, from Liverpool, used to work as a security guard on a zero-hours contract, but sometimes worked 72 hours a week.
She told Sky News the large number of hours did not equate to job security.
"There wasn't much expectation that your job was ever going to get any better, or that you had any recourse to the employer for anything," Ms Wicks said.
Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said: "Whilst some employees welcome the flexibility of such contracts, for many zero-hours contracts leave them insecure, unsure of when work will come and undermining family life.
"The 'review' the Business Secretary has established into zero hours contracts is clearly inadequate given the seriousness of this issue and the mounting evidence of the abuse of zero hours contracts.
"Nothing less than a proper consultation with a formal call for evidence will do."
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