The Government-commissioned inquiry into controversial working practices is set to call for employees on zero-hours contracts to be given the right to request a move onto fixed hours.

According to a BBC report, Matthew Taylor, the head of the Royal Society of Arts who is leading the review, will say that some workers might be being exploited by businesses.

The “right to request” fixed hours will be similar to the present right to request flexible hours – after having a child for example. Employers would have to respond “seriously” to the request and give reasons for their decision. The idea was proposed in a Confederation of British Industry (CBI) submission to the review. The new “right to request” fixed hours could be used by some of the 900,000 people on zero-hours contracts, a number that has risen from 143,000 in 2008. Labour has proposed banning zero-hours contracts if it wins the general election and the Liberal Democrats have said they back a right to request change to employment regulations. The Conservatives – which commissioned the Taylor review – said that they would look at new rights for people working in the “gig economy” who are often classed as self-employed even though they may be regularly working for one company. Unions warn that there are higher rates of work-related injuries and ill-health in insecure workers, who are less able to raise or challenge health and safety concerns.