Finding a job in Madagascar

Two minimum wages depending on the sector

Decree 2024-794 of 4 April 2024 sets the minimum wage for category M1-1A at 262,680 Ar per month for the non-agricultural sector and 266,500 Ar for the agricultural sector. These amounts have applied since 1 March 2024.

A different hourly basis

The decree uses a reference period of 173.33 hours per month outside agriculture and 200 hours in agriculture. The point value is 0.8745 Ar outside agriculture and 0.7688 Ar in agriculture. It repeals the 2023 decree.

A text reserved for the private sector

These minimum wages concern private employers. They are based on Law 2003-044 of 28 July 2004 on the Labour Code. Public servants fall under other rules; a vacancy in the civil service should therefore be read against its own pay scale.

The Malagasy labour code: a text to watch

A 2024 law relating to labour also appears in the ILO NATLEX database, although its exact subject has not been verified. Before signing a contract, confirm with the labour inspectorate which text applies to your situation.

Agriculture, the country's largest employer

According to the ILO, agriculture accounts for 60 to 85% of employment in several countries, including Madagascar. Processing offers more productive but fewer jobs, as our page jobs in agriculture and agribusiness explains.

Statistics: where to find the figures

INSTAT has published a booklet, Women and Men in Madagascar in 2026, with a chapter on the activity rate, unemployment, non-agricultural informal work and hourly wages, based on the EPM 2021-2022 survey. Its values have not been extracted here.

The competent ministry

The 2024 decree is signed under the letterhead of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and the Civil Service. This title may have changed with government reshuffles; check the current name before sending a letter or a complaint.

PortalJob, a local job board

PortalJob Madagascar posts permanent, fixed-term, internship, freelance and temporary agency vacancies. Adverts for Mauritius also appear there, in sales or cashier roles. However, the site's current activity could not be confirmed during verification.

Going to work in Mauritius

Vacancies for Mauritius appear on Malagasy platforms, mainly in retail and sales. Before accepting, read our guide working in Mauritius: the work permit is obtained before departure, and no candidate should pay to get it.

NGOs and humanitarian projects

ReliefWeb offers a dedicated list of vacancies in Madagascar, fed by NGOs and international agencies; Atlas Logistique was recruiting there in October 2026. This field, its employers and its requirements are described in humanitarian careers.

Indian Ocean neighbours

The even smaller Comorian market is presented on our page jobs in the Comoros. Comparing pay and residence conditions from one country to another avoids unpleasant surprises when moving within the region.

Data still missing

A figure for the unemployment rate, the existence of a national employment agency, the work permit procedure for foreigners and the statutory weekly working hours have not been verified. These points should be confirmed with the official services.

Reference bodies and websites

• Ministère du Travail, de l'Emploi et de la Fonction publique: Ministry that signed the 2024 decree on minimum wages; current title to be checked.
• INSTAT Madagascar: National statistics institute, author of the 2026 gender booklet with a chapter devoted to employment.
• Décret n° 2024-794: Official text setting the private-sector minimum hiring wages in force since March 2024.
• PortalJob Madagascar: List of local permanent, fixed-term, internship, freelance and temporary vacancies, with a few posts in Mauritius.
• ReliefWeb – offres à Madagascar: Selection of vacancies from NGOs and international agencies active on the Big Island.

Running your search in Madagascar

1. Define your target sector: agriculture and agribusiness, retail, services, development projects or public administration.
2. Write a CV in French, with an English version for NGOs and international organisations.
3. Check PortalJob Madagascar and ReliefWeb humanitarian vacancies several times a week.
4. Make sure the salary offered at least matches the minimum for the applicable category.
5. Insist on a written contract stating pay, hours and duration before you start.
6. For a job abroad, verify that the employer exists and check the work permit procedure.

Pay and official benchmarks

Documents asked of candidates

• CV in French, and in English for international organisations
• Certified copies of degrees
• Previous employment certificates
• Criminal record certificate
• National identity card or passport
• For a foreigner, a suitable work permit and visa, procedure to be confirmed

Common scams and missteps

• Paying an agent for a job in Mauritius or the Gulf: recruitment fees charged to the candidate are a sign of fraud.
• Accepting pay below the minimum wage for your category without asking the employer for a written explanation.
• Going abroad on a tourist visa in the hope of regularising your situation once there.
• Working without a written contract, which complicates any recourse in the event of unpaid wages or dismissal.
• Trusting a vacancy shared on social media without tracing the original advert with the employer or on a known platform.

Information up to date as of October 2026. AfriqueJob.com does not recruit and never asks for money: beware of offers that demand fees.