For decades, he dedicated himself to the same profession in his ex-wife’s pharmacy, believing that his future and retirement were guaranteed. However, a man from Bergamo, in northern Italy, was forced to continue working at the age of 78 after discovering that he had never been officially registered as a worker, and was therefore not entitled to any pension.
The story was revealed by the Spanish portal Noticias Trabajo and has caused a great impact in the country. The protagonist, whose name was not disclosed, worked between 1975 and 2000 in a pharmacy managed jointly with his then wife. The problem is that, from a legal point of view, he never existed as an employee.
For 25 years, he kept schedules, served customers and kept the business afloat. But as the pharmacy was in his wife’s name, he was never registered with the Italian social security system, an essential requirement to accumulate contributions and guarantee the right to retirement.
Dismissed without warning or compensation
The situation worsened when the couple separated and the man was removed from the pharmacy. He was left without compensation and without any record of discounts. It was only at that point that he realized that years of work did not officially count towards calculating the pension.
“When things go well, you don’t think there could be anything wrong,” he confessed. He believed that everything was in order and that, at the right time, he would have the right to reform. But the reality was different.
At the age of 53, he was faced with what he called “the void of a lifetime”. Missing contributions made it impossible to reach the minimum number of years required by Italian social security.
Union support was not enough
After discovering the error, he sought help from the unions. However, the response was discouraging: “Contributions were not paid on time,” they told him, making it clear that the system could not go back more than two decades.
With no legal basis to demand compensation, he found himself at a dead end. The case, according to experts in labor law cited by the same source, is more common than one might think, especially in family businesses where the professional relationship is confused with the personal.
He works at the age of 78 to support his family
Currently, at 78 years old, the man continues to work as an independent professional, providing occasional services in well-known pharmacies. “I don’t have a stable contract, but with a little effort I can support my family”, he explained.
He lives with his new partner and a teenage son, which motivates him to continue. Despite the difficulties, he maintains optimism and a work routine adapted to his age: a few hours a day, on light, short-term tasks.
A new look at life
For a long time, he refused to go to court. However, the arrival of his son led him to change his perspective. “I would like to leave you something”, he said, admitting that he is considering taking legal action to try to recover part of the lost value.
Since leaving the pharmacy, he has never had contact with his ex-wife or the business. “When they told me that I no longer had the right to anything, I stopped hearing from them”, he said, with evident sadness.
A feeling of injustice that doesn’t go away
The case left him with a deep feeling of disappointment. “We are talking about hundreds of thousands of euros. It is not an easy story”, he acknowledged, regretting having trusted without questioning.
The loss was not just financial. “What he left me is a scandalous legacy,” he said, referring to the emotional weight of seeing his life’s work devalued.
A lesson for many workers
Italian labor organizations took advantage of the case to warn of the importance of regularly checking pension contributions. Many self-employed workers and family employees are unaware that failure to formally register implies the total loss of future rights.
Experts argue that, even in family businesses, there must be a contract and a contributory record. “Trust does not replace legality”, emphasizes lawyer Giorgio Cattaneo, cited by .
Resistance and willingness to continue
Despite his age and adversity, the man refuses to give up. “My legs still support me and I can do a few hours,” he said. Working, he guarantees, is the way he found to maintain his dignity and sense of purpose.
Today, more than complaining about the past, he seeks to guarantee his son’s future and leave him a life lesson. “I want you to know that it is not money that defines us, but what we do with the time we have”, he concluded.
Also read:
