Madagascar (MG)
World's fourth-largest island, Madagascar offers extraordinary biodiversity (90% of wildlife found nowhere else), one of the world's lowest costs of living, warm French-speaking culture, and unique opportunities in vanilla, ecotourism, and development sectors.
Family Rights & Benefits
Maternity, parental leave and child benefits in Madagascar.
Madagascar's family rights framework is governed by the Code du Travail (for employment-related entitlements) and the Code Civil Malagasy (for family law). Maternity protections are relatively strong on paper; paternity leave is minimal. State family benefits are very limited and mainly consist of CNAPS family allowances for formal-sector workers. Expat families should rely primarily on employer-provided benefits and international insurance rather than the state system. Birth registration is mandatory and must be done within 15 days at the local civil registry (état civil).
Congé de Maternité
Before birth: 6 weeks before the due date (congé prénatal). The employer cannot require a pregnant employee to work during this period.
After birth: 8 weeks after birth (14 weeks total). Extended to 12 weeks postnatal if birth complications or multiple births.
Job protection: The Code du Travail prohibits dismissal of a pregnant employee from the moment pregnancy is declared until 12 weeks after delivery, except in cases of serious professional misconduct (faute grave) with Inspection du Travail approval. Pregnant employees also have the right to reduced hours for prenatal appointments.
Congé Parental (very limited)
Max duration: Madagascar does not have a statutory paid parental leave scheme beyond maternity leave. Some large employers (NGOs, multinationals, mining companies) offer additional paid leave by company policy — check your employment contract.
Split rules / Elterngeld: There is no statutory shared parental leave system. Mothers take 14 weeks maternity leave. Fathers have no statutory entitlement beyond informal paternity arrangements. Some international employers operating in Madagascar provide their own paternity leave policy (typically 5–10 days) — negotiate this in your contract.
Benefits
Allocations Familiales CNAPS (Family Allowances)
Ar 2,000–4,000 per month per child (very modest)
Duration: Until child turns 15 (21 if in full-time education)
Eligibility: Formal-sector employees registered with CNAPS. Employer must be contributing CNAPS contributions.
How to apply: Apply at CNAPS (Caisse Nationale de Prévoyance Sociale) with child's birth certificate, marriage certificate, and proof of CNAPS registration. CNAPS main office: Antananarivo — Rue Fernand Kasanga.
The amounts are very low by international standards. Most expat families rely on employer benefits or international family support rather than CNAPS allocations.
CNAPS Maternity Benefit (Indemnité Journalière de Maternité)
50–100% of salary (depending on CNAPS contribution history)
Duration: 14 weeks maternity leave period
Eligibility: Female employees registered with CNAPS for at least 6 months.
How to apply: Employer typically handles payroll during maternity leave. CNAPS reimburses the employer a portion. Apply via CNAPS with maternity certificate from your doctor and your CNAPS card.
In practice, most formal employers continue to pay full salary during maternity leave as required by the Code du Travail. CNAPS maternity benefit supplements or reimburses part of this to the employer.
CNAPS Death Benefit (Allocation Décès)
Lump-sum (typically 3–6 months' salary equivalent)
Duration: One-time payment
Eligibility: Dependants of a CNAPS-registered employee who dies while employed.
How to apply: Apply at CNAPS with death certificate, proof of relationship, and CNAPS registration documents.
Expats should supplement this with international life insurance given the modest CNAPS death benefit.
Sick child leave
No specific statutory sick child leave provision exists in Madagascar beyond general sick leave provisions. In practice, many formal employers (NGOs, embassies, multinationals) include sick child leave in their internal HR policies. Negotiate this in your employment contract if you have children.
Birth registration
Births must be registered within 15 days at the local état civil (civil registry office — mairie or fokontany). For expat parents: bring both parents' passports, proof of marriage (if applicable, with apostille and French translation), and hospital birth certificate. The Acte de Naissance (birth certificate) is issued by the état civil. For births at Clinique IARIVO or other private clinics, the clinic provides a birth declaration document for civil registration. Foreign nationals should also register the birth at their home country's consulate or embassy in Antananarivo for citizenship/passport purposes.
Childcare rights
There is no statutory right to childcare in Madagascar. Private crèches and maternelles are available in Antananarivo (mainly in expat neighbourhoods). Quality varies significantly. The Lycée Français de Tananarive (LFT) provides continuity from maternelle through Baccalauréat for French-curriculum families. The American School of Antananarivo (ASA) serves English-speaking expat families. No state childcare subsidy system exists for expats. Employer-provided childcare allowances are sometimes available for NGO and diplomatic staff — negotiate in your contract.
Family Rights
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