Title 29 — LaborRelease 119-73
§1392 Obligation to contribute
Title 29 › Chapter CHAPTER 18— - EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY PROGRAM › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - PLAN TERMINATION INSURANCE › Subtitle Subtitle E— - Special Provisions for Multiemployer Plans › Part part 1— - employer withdrawals › § 1392
Summary
Defines "obligation to contribute" as money someone must pay because of collective bargaining agreements or because labor-management rules require it. Payments called withdrawal liability are not treated as contributions. If a deal was mainly meant to dodge this duty, the deal is ignored and liability is still enforced.
Full Legal Text
Title 29, §1392
Labor — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)For purposes of this part, the term “obligation to contribute” means an obligation to contribute arising—
(1)under one or more collective bargaining (or related) agreements, or
(2)as a result of a duty under applicable labor-management relations law, but
(b)Payments of withdrawal liability under this part shall not be considered contributions for purposes of this part.
(c)If a principal purpose of any transaction is to evade or avoid liability under this part, this part shall be applied (and liability shall be determined and collected) without regard to such transaction.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
29 U.S.C. § 1392
Title 29 — Labor
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73