Bah!
I'm almost 54 and worked for 28 years.
With the last reforms from our Goldman Sachs' employee (our PM Mario Monti) TODAY you need to have 42 years of work to retire.
This means that I cannot retire before I'm 67.
I said TODAY: the threshold will go farther as life expectation increases.
I doubt they will let me retire before I'm 70.
That wouldn't be much of a problem if I could count on a job until that date.
But I strongly doubt I'll keep my job until then: Companies get rid of older people first.
Moreover I also doubt that my Company will last more than few more years before it's merged/acquired with/by some other one and this usually accelerates the disposal of older people above...
Shortly (in very few years) I fear I'm going to face unemployment and believe me, here in Italy it's very hard (I'd say almost impossible) to find a new "regular" job for elderly people...
Two alternatives then:
- opening my own Company: about what?? not Consultancy because today Companies have to cut the costs and moreover they pay with years of delay (if not paying at all...). Perhaps the usual "Pizza shop"
There are already too many and there's no room for new initiatives.
- emigrate. Find a Country where my experience can be appreciated or where my money savings can be multiplied by a low cost of life.
I know that when that time will come I'll find some kind of solution in order to reach the age of retirement with something to eat for me and my family but only time will tell.
Moreover, when I'll be allowed to retire, the monthly fee will be less than 50 % of my current salary.
I don't know why but I'm not feeling optimistic about my future...
Summing up: I envy you!!!!
