Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Africa, 2011

Madagascar

Exchange rate: US$1.00 = 2,010.61 ariary.

Old Age, Disability, and Survivors

Regulatory Framework

First and current laws: 1969 (social insurance) and 1994 (social protection).

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Employed persons.

Exclusions: Self-employed persons; farmers and casual agricultural workers working less than three months a year.

Special system for civil servants.

Source of Funds

Insured person: 1% of covered earnings; a flat rate of 400 ariary a month for full-time household workers.

The minimum earnings used to calculate contributions are the legal monthly minimum wage.

The maximum earnings used to calculate contributions are eight times the legal monthly minimum wage.

The legal monthly minimum wage is 90,235 ariary (nonagricultural sector); 91,520 ariary (agricultural sector).

Self-employed person: Not applicable.

Employer: 9.5% of covered payroll; a flat rate of 800 ariary a month for full-time household workers.

The minimum earnings used to calculate contributions are the legal monthly minimum wage.

The maximum earnings used to calculate contributions are eight times the legal monthly minimum wage.

The legal monthly minimum wage is 90,235 ariary (nonagricultural sector); 91,520 ariary (agricultural sector).

Contributions are paid quarterly.

Government: None; contributes as an employer for public-sector employees who are not civil servants.

Qualifying Conditions

Old-age pension: Age 60 (men) or age 55 (women and merchant seamen) with at least 15 years of coverage (some periods of work before 1969 are credited) including 28 quarters of contributions in the last 10 calendar years. Employment must cease.

Partial pension: A proportionately reduced pension is paid if the insured has less than 28 quarters of contributions in the last 10 calendar years but has at least 100 quarters (men) or 80 quarters (women) of total coverage.

The insured may continue to work up to five years after the legal retirement age to meet the contribution qualifying conditions.

The pension is payable abroad.

Solidarity allowance: Paid to insured persons who do not meet the qualifying conditions for the full or partial old-age pension at age 60 (men) or age 55 (women). The insured must have had at least 15 quarters of employment between January 1, 1964, and December 31, 1968, and have been in salaried employment on January 1, 1969. Employment must cease.

The allowance is payable abroad.

Disability pension: Age 55 (men) or age 50 (women and merchant seamen) with at least a 60% loss of working capacity and with at least 10 years of coverage (some periods of work before 1969 are credited), including at least 28 quarters of contributions in the last 10 calendar years.

The pension is payable abroad.

Survivor pension: The deceased was a pensioner or was at least age 55 (men) or age 50 (women) and met the contribution qualifying conditions for the old-age pension at the time of death.

Eligible survivors are the spouse and children younger than age 15 (age 22 if a student or disabled).

The widow(er)'s pension ceases on remarriage.

The pension is payable abroad.

Old-Age Benefits

Old-age pension: The pension is 30% of the legal monthly minimum wage plus 20% of the insured's monthly average adjusted earnings in the last 10 calendar years plus 1% of the insured's earnings for each year of contributions exceeding 10 years.

The minimum earnings used to calculate benefits are the legal monthly minimum wage.

The maximum earnings used to calculate benefits are eight times the legal monthly minimum wage.

The legal monthly minimum wage is 90,235 ariary (nonagricultural sector); 91,520 ariary (agricultural sector).

Partial pension: A reduced pension is paid.

Dependent's supplement: 10% of the insured's pension is paid for a spouse older than age 59 (men) or age 54 (women).

Special supplement: A supplement of 5% of the pension is paid for workers awarded the bronze medal for long service at work; 10% for the silver medal for long service at work.

The minimum pension is 60% of the legal monthly minimum wage including supplements.

The maximum pension is 40% of the maximum earnings used to calculate contributions (if supplements are not paid) or 75% of the insured's monthly average adjusted earnings in the last 10 calendar years (if supplements are paid).

The legal monthly minimum wage is 90,235 ariary (nonagricultural sector); 91,520 ariary (agricultural sector).

The insured may receive both the old-age pension and the work injury permanent disability pension. The total amount received is 100% of the higher pension plus 25% of the lower pension.

Pensions are paid quarterly.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted according to increases in the legal minimum wage. (The last adjustment to the legal minimum wage was made in 2011.)

Refund of contributions: A lump sum of total contributions plus 2% annual interest per year is paid to an insured person with at least four contribution quarters who does not meet the requirements for the pension. The amount of the refund must not be less than 20,000 ariary.

Solidarity allowance: The annual allowance is 30% of 12 times the legal monthly minimum wage plus 10% of the insured's average annual earnings in the last five calendar years plus 1% of the insured's earnings for each four-quarter period of contributions.

The legal monthly minimum wage is 90,235 ariary (nonagricultural sector); 91,520 ariary (agricultural sector).

The allowance is paid quarterly.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted according to increases in the legal minimum wage. (The last adjustment to the legal minimum wage was made in 2011.)

Permanent Disability Benefits

Disability pension: The pension is 80% of the old-age pension that would have been paid if the insured had worked until the pensionable age.

Dependent's supplement: 10% of the insured's pension is paid for a spouse older than age 59 (men) or age 54 (women).

Special supplement: A supplement of 5% of the pension is paid for workers awarded the bronze medal for long service at work; 10% for the silver medal for long service at work.

The minimum pension is 60% of the legal monthly minimum wage, including supplements.

The legal monthly minimum wage is 90,235 ariary (nonagricultural sector); 91,520 ariary (agricultural sector).

If the insured is no longer capable of work and is eligible for both the disability pension and the work injury permanent disability pension, only the higher pension is paid.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted according to increases in the legal minimum wage. (The last adjustment of the legal minimum wage was made in 2011.)

Refund of contributions: A lump sum of total contributions plus 2% annual interest per year is paid to an insured person with at least four contribution quarters who does not meet the requirements for the pension. The amount of the refund must not be less than 20,000 ariary.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pension: 30% of the pension the insured received or would have been entitled to receive is paid to an unemployed widow(er); 15% if the widow(er) is employed or receiving a pension.

Pensions are paid quarterly.

Orphan's pension: 15% of the pension the insured received or was entitled to receive is paid for each of the first two orphans; 10% for each additional orphan; 20% for each full orphan.

All survivor benefits combined must not exceed 85% of the pension the deceased received or would have been entitled to receive.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted according to increases in the legal minimum wage. (The last adjustment of the legal minimum wage was made in 2011.)

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Civil Service, Labor, and Social Legislation provides general supervision.

National Social Insurance Fund (http://www.cnaps.mg) administers the program.

Sickness and Maternity

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1952.

Current laws: 1963 (family benefits) and 1994 (social protection).

Type of program: Social insurance system. Maternity benefits only.

Coverage

Employed women, including household and salaried agricultural workers.

Exclusions: Self-employed persons; casual agricultural workers working less than three months a year.

Source of Funds

Insured person: None.

Self-employed person: Not applicable.

Employer: See source of funds under Family Allowances.

Government: None.

Qualifying Conditions

Cash sickness benefits: No statutory benefits are provided. (The labor code requires employers to provide paid sick leave to employees.)

Cash maternity benefits: The insured must have at least six consecutive months of insured employment with at least 20 days or 134 hours of work a month.

Sickness and Maternity Benefits

Sickness benefit: No statutory benefits are provided. (The labor code requires employers to provide paid sick leave to employees.)

Maternity benefit: 50% of the insured's last wage is paid for six weeks before and eight weeks after (up to 11 weeks if there are complications arising from pregnancy or childbirth) the expected date of childbirth. The benefit is paid in two equal amounts (three if there are complications).

The minimum monthly earnings used to calculate benefits are the legal monthly minimum wage.

The legal monthly minimum wage is 90,235 ariary (nonagricultural sector); 91,520 ariary (agricultural sector).

If the insured is ineligible for maternity benefits, the employer pays 50% of earnings for up to 14 weeks of maternity leave.

Workers' Medical Benefits

Insured women are reimbursed for the cost of medical care during pregnancy and childbirth, up to 5,000 ariary. (The labor code requires employers to provide certain medical services to employees.)

Dependents' Medical Benefits

Some maternity and child health and welfare services are provided under Family Allowances. (The labor code requires employers to provide certain medical services to employees' dependents.)

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Civil Service, Labor, and Social Legislation provides general supervision.

National Social Insurance Fund (http://www.cnaps.mg) administers the program.

Work Injury

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1925.

Current laws: 1963 (work injury) and 1994 (social protection).

Type of program: Social insurance system.

Coverage

Employed persons.

Exclusions: Self-employed persons.

Special system for civil servants.

Source of Funds

Insured person: None.

Self-employed person: Not applicable.

Employer: 1.25% of covered payroll; 1% for salaried casual agricultural workers; a lump-sum monthly contribution of 385 ariary for full-time household workers; 1% of annual covered earnings for cooperative members; a flat-rate annual contribution of 40 ariary for each apprentice and each private technical school student; 1.5% of annual base earnings of 4,000 ariary per cultivated hectare for tobacco growers.

The minimum earnings used to calculate contributions are the legal monthly minimum wage.

The maximum earnings used to calculate contributions are eight times the legal monthly minimum wage.

The legal monthly minimum wage is 90,235 ariary (nonagricultural sector); 91,520 ariary (agricultural sector).

Contributions are paid quarterly. Students, cooperative members, and tobacco growers pay contributions annually.

Government: None; contributes as an employer for public-sector employees who are not civil servants.

Qualifying Conditions

Work injury benefits: There is no minimum qualifying period.

Temporary Disability Benefits

The daily benefit is 66.7% of the insured's daily average earnings in the last 30 days before the disability began. The benefit is paid monthly from the day after the disability began until full recovery or certification of permanent disability.

The maximum daily benefit is 1,200 ariary.

Benefit adjustment: If the disability lasts more than three months, benefits may be adjusted according to the growth in wages.

Permanent Disability Benefits

Permanent disability pension: If the insured is assessed with a total disability, 100% of the insured's monthly average earnings in the 12 months before the disability began is paid.

The minimum earnings used to calculate benefits are 1.4 times the legal monthly minimum wage.

Only 33% of earnings exceeding four times the legal monthly minimum wage is used to calculate benefits. The maximum earnings used to calculate benefits are 16 times the legal monthly minimum wage.

The legal monthly minimum wage is 90,235 ariary (nonagricultural sector); 91,520 ariary (agricultural sector).

Constant-attendance supplement: If the insured requires the constant attendance of others to perform daily functions, 40% of the disability pension is paid. The supplement must not be less than the legal monthly minimum wage.

Partial disability: If the assessed degree of disability is 10% or more, the pension is the insured's average earnings in the 12 months before the disability began multiplied by 0.5 times the percentage of the assessed degree of disability for the portion of disability up to 50% and by 1.5 times the percentage of the assessed degree of disability for the portion of disability greater than 50%.

If the assessed degree of disability is greater than 10%, the minimum earnings used to calculate benefits are 1.4 times the legal monthly minimum wage.

The legal monthly minimum wage is 90,235 ariary (nonagricultural sector); 91,520 ariary (agricultural sector).

The partial disability pension is paid quarterly. If the assessed degree of disability is 75% or more, the pension can be paid monthly; if the assessed degree of disability is less than 10%, the pension is paid as a lump sum.

The partial and total disability pensions may be partially converted to a lump sum after receiving the pension for three years.

The insured may receive both the old-age pension and the work injury permanent disability pension. The total amount received is 100% of the higher pension plus 25% of the lower pension.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted according to increases in the legal minimum wage. (The last adjustment of the legal minimum wage was made in 2011.)

Workers' Medical Benefits

Benefits include medical and surgical care, hospitalization, medicine, appliances, transportation, and rehabilitation.

Survivor Benefits

Survivor pension: 30% of the deceased's monthly average earnings in the 12 months before the disability began is paid to a widow(er).

Orphan's pension: 15% of the deceased's monthly average earnings in the 12 months before the disability began is paid for each of the first two orphans younger than age 15 (age 19 if an apprentice, age 22 if a student or disabled) and 10% for each other orphan; 20% for each full orphan.

Dependent parent's and grandparent's pension: 10% of the deceased's average earnings is paid for each dependent parent or grandparent, up to 30%.

The minimum earnings used to calculate benefits are 1.4 times the legal monthly minimum wage.

The maximum earnings used to calculate benefits are 16 times the legal monthly minimum wage.

For earnings exceeding four times the legal monthly minimum wage, only 33.3% of these earnings are used to calculate benefits.

The legal monthly minimum wage is 90,235 ariary (nonagricultural sector); 91,520 ariary (agricultural sector).

All survivor benefits combined must not exceed 85% of the deceased's earnings used to calculate benefits.

Pensions are paid quarterly.

Funeral grant: A lump sum of 20,000 ariary is paid.

Benefit adjustment: Pensions are adjusted according to increases in the legal minimum wage. (The last adjustment of the legal minimum wage was made in 2011.)

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Civil Service, Labor, and Social Legislation provides general supervision.

National Social Insurance Fund (http://www.cnaps.mg) administers the program.

Family Allowances

Regulatory Framework

First law: 1952.

Current laws: 1963 (family benefits) and 1994 (social protection).

Type of program: Employment-related system.

Coverage

Employed persons.

The insured must reside in Madagascar or France.

Unemployed workers are covered for up to six months under certain conditions.

Exclusions: Self-employed persons; farmers and casual agricultural workers working less than three months a year.

Special system for civil servants.

Source of Funds

Insured person: None.

Self-employed person: Not applicable.

Employer: 2.25% of covered payroll; a flat rate 692 ariary a month for full-time household workers.

The minimum earnings used to calculate contributions are the legal monthly minimum wage.

The maximum earnings used to calculate contributions are eight times the legal monthly minimum wage.

The legal monthly minimum wage is 90,235 ariary (nonagricultural sector); 91,520 ariary (agricultural sector).

The employer's contributions also finance maternity benefits under Sickness and Maternity.

Government: None; contributes as an employer for public-sector employees who are not civil servants.

Qualifying Conditions

Family allowances: The child must be younger than age 15 (age 19 if an apprentice; age 22 if a student, an unmarried daughter caring for children, or disabled). The parent must be a widow(er) of a beneficiary or have at least six consecutive months of insured employment with at least 20 days or 134 hours of work a month (nonagricultural sector) or with at least 18 days or 144 hours of work a month (agricultural sector).

Prenatal allowance: The insured woman must undergo prescribed medical examinations before childbirth.

Birth grant: The insured woman must undergo prescribed medical examinations after childbirth.

Family Allowance Benefits

Family allowances: 2,000 ariary a month is paid for each child.

Prenatal allowance: A lump sum of 18,000 ariary is paid.

Birth grant: 24,000 ariary is paid for each live birth. The grant is paid in two installments. The allowance is reduced by 50% if the mother did not undergo the prescribed medical examinations or report a medical examination to the National Social Insurance Fund within a month of the examination.

Some maternity and child health and welfare services are also provided.

Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted periodically. (The last adjustment was made in 2003.)

Administrative Organization

Ministry of Civil Service, Labor, and Social Legislation provides general supervision.

National Social Insurance Fund (http://www.cnaps.mg) administers the program.