It is estimated that more than 200,000 workers - 0.7% of the workforce - are on zero-hours contracts and its use has steadily increased since 89,000 contracts in 2004.
Critics of zero-hours contracts bemoan the insecurity it provides workers and the perception that employers have too much power. There has been anecdotal evidence that vulnerable workers are being stripped of basic employment rights.
Regulation vs Voluntary Code
Panelists were divided over the best way to safeguard employees on zero-hours contracts. Some called for tougher regulation and others promoted a voluntary code.
Stephen Lloyd, the Liberal Democrat MP for Eastbourne and Willingdon, warned against regulation but believes a code could help promote better employer practice.
"I do think there is a case, if the evidence [zero-hours contracts are being abused] stacks up, for the Government to come up with a good code of practice because potentially it looks like it could be expanding exponentially in certain areas like the NHS, universities and the care sectors. I think it will help employers," he said.
Nicola Smith, the head of economic and social affairs at the TUC, said voluntary codes do not work.
"The challenge is finding a regulatory environment that will wipe out bad practice. We don't have the balance right on that at the moment," Smith said.
Recruitment and Employment Confederation chief executive Kevin Green warned against regulation because it could have unintended consequences.
"Before anyone starts to think about regulation, I would request we have a proper review, look at the data and identify what the issue is. If there is bad practice, let's try and resolve that in a voluntary way," he said.
"The problem with regulatory steps and legislation is that you often get unintended consequences and there is no doubt that people will [continue] to play the system."
A soft review
Last month, business secretary Vince Cable launched a review of zero-hour contracts, which will involve informal talks with unions, research organisations and employers' groups, but panelists believe it does not go far enough.
All panelists agreed that in its current form, the review was too lightweight and would not provide the Government with the hard data it needed to reform the system.
Ian Brinkley, a Work Foundation director, said the Government should consider a review similar in nature, but perhaps not scale, to the 2010 Hutton fair pay review of the public sector.
"We have a BIS review that is going on but I don't think it is really a review but rather a set of informal conversations with some of the key stakeholders. I would like to suggest we think about something more ambitious," he said.
Wirral South MP Alison McGovern said any review should also analyse the psychological effect zero-hours contracts can have on workers.
"This is not just a question of the numbers or economics, it is also a question about what it does to people. I don't think the indignity of this power imbalance [between worker and employee] is OK," she said.
The lowdown on zero-hours contracts
200,000 workers on zero-hours contracts.
They are most popular in hotels and restaurants, heath-care, education, community services and the retail sectors.
Nearly a quarter are full-time students.
70% are in permanent jobs.
80% are not looking for another job.
