In Spain, public employment has been synonymous with stability and economic security for decades. Being a civil servant guarantees a fixed salary, consolidated labor rights and a secured retirement, compared to the uncertainty that exists in the private sector. Therefore, more and more young people who aspire to get a place in the Administration.
In this sense, Federico Fuentes, an 81-year-old retired teacher, defends with conviction the advantages of having been a civil servant all his life, in an interview for NewsWork. After dedicating half a century to work, today he enjoys a pension that, as he claims, allows him to “live in peace.”
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Federico began his working life as a school teacher in Barcelona, with “a fairly minimum salary and very high hours,” he explains, although he acknowledges that “it became softer” thanks to a strike that improved conditions in the sector, which allowed him to increase his salary and earn about 2,000 euros per month.
After more than 30 years of public service, he retired with a pension of 2,300 euros per month. “I retired to earn more,” he confesses with a laugh. “I’m lucky. Now, since the children are already on their own, I practically have leftovers. I can even save,” adds Federico. Furthermore, unlike many pensioners who notice the impact of inflation on their purchasing power, this retiree assures that he has not suffered major difficulties.
Defends the advantages of being a civil servant
For Federico, being a civil servant has been one of the greatest guarantees of well-being in his life. He defends that public employment offers “a job for life”, contrary to the vagaries of the labor market and private companies.
“No one fires you there and they also charge well. Any company can go bankrupt, close and you’re out on the streets,” he summarizes, considering that this stability allows you to develop your vocation without fear of dismissal and plan the future with security, something that, in your opinion, explains why so many young people continue to choose this path.
Criticizes young people’s complaints about pensions
The debate about the sustainability of the public pension system and stable employment continues to divide opinions between generations. While young people face a labor market with precarious conditions and express their concern about not being able to collect a pension in the future, many retirees claim the role of contributions, as in the case of Federico.
“It seems very bad to me that young people say that They take part of their salary to pay pensions. If this were not the case, pensions would not exist,” he maintains. “When it is their turn, they will think the same as us,” he adds, ensuring that tomorrow young people will have a pension. His vision contrasts with the skepticism of many young workers, who distrust a model that they consider unsustainable. However, for this retired teacher, the key is to maintain solidarity between generations.