The University of Limerick has been appointed to carry out a study into zero hour and low hours contracts by Minister for State Ged Nash.
A team from the university’s Kemmy School of Business has been asked to look into the prevalence and impact of such contracts to find out if they are detrimental to workers or the economy.
Zero hour contracts, which have become more common in certain sectors in recent years, often require someone to be available to work despite not being guaranteed a minimum number of hours per week.
The UL team is set to study data that already exists on the trend, as well as speak to workers and employers involved in the practice.
Mr Nash said that the results of a study on zero hours contracts will inform any new employment regulations which may be introduced.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said that the aim was to make sure that as the economy recovers, the jobs being created were secure and paid well.
"At the moment we don't have any robust data in relation to the extent or prevalence of zero hour contracts or low-hour contracts (contracts of eight hours or less) in Ireland," he said.
The report is due to be completed by June or July.
"It will inform the legislation and regulations to be enacted to ensure we can protect people on low pay, and people working in areas of the economy synonymous with zero hour and low hour contracts," Mr Nash said.
