---
kind: "section"
citation: "29 U.S.C. § 1856"
title: "29"
title_heading: "Labor"
number: "1856"
heading: "Waiver of rights"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/29/1856"
units:
  - "Chapter 20 — Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection"
  - "Subchapter V — General Provisions"
  - "Part A — Enforcement Provisions"
---

# §1856. Waiver of rights


Agreements by employees purporting to waive or to modify their rights under this chapter shall be void as contrary to public policy, except that a waiver or modification of rights in favor of the [Secretary](/usc/29/1802.md?p=11) shall be valid for purposes of enforcement of this chapter.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 97–470, title V, § 506, Jan. 14, 1983, 96 Stat. 2598.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective 90 days from Jan. 14, 1983, see section 524 of Pub. L. 97–470, set out as a note under section 1801 of this title.