In Brief
Premium Transmission, a manufacturing company, engaged contract workers through registered labour contractors. When unionised contract workers raised demands claiming they were wrongfully treated as temporary workers despite performing permanent work, the company argued the dispute was invalid because no formal demand was served before approaching the Conciliation Officer. The Supreme Court upheld the reference to the Industrial Court, holding that prior written demands are not mandatory preconditions for conciliation. The Court found a genuine dispute existed regarding whether the contracts were genuine or sham arrangements to deny workers benefits. The Industrial Court must adjudicate whether the company is the principal employer and if the contracts were camouflage.
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