Didier, already retired and currently 77 years old, worked as a court agent in Paris for more than three decades and decided to extend his career beyond the usual age to remain motivated by the profession. He ended up retiring at the age of 65 and today receives a monthly pension of 4,205 euros from French Social Security, an amount above the national average and which, according to him, reflects the level of demand and responsibility of the roles he performed.
In an interview with the French newspaper Le Figaro, cited by the Spanish newspaper, the retiree recalls that work has always been a central part of his life. “I retired at 65 because I liked what I did. At the end of my career I realized that it was no longer my time and that I should give way to younger people”, he said.
According to available data, the average value of pensions in France was 1,666 euros gross in 2023, a value higher than that recorded in Portugal. The differences are mainly explained by contributory schemes, with self-employed workers and public servants tending to have higher pensions.
Career in the service of Justice
With a degree in Law, Didier entered public service after passing a demanding competition. Over the years, he progressed to occupy a position of high responsibility in the French Ministry of Justice, performing duties that required an oath at the Cour d’appel, after validation by the Minister of Justice.
During more than 30 years of activity, it provided discounts for two different systems: the National Old-Age Insurance Fund for Liberal Professionals (CNAVPL) and the Old-Age Insurance Fund for Ministerial Employees, Public Officials and Judicial Companies (CAVOM).
Both schemes work based on a points system, in which each contribution throughout your career accumulates rights that, at the time of retirement, determine the final value of the pension, according to the same source. In Didier’s case, these additional contributions helped to significantly reinforce the value of the basic pension.
Decision to retire and enjoy life
The decision to end his professional activity was not immediate for the retiree, now 77 years old. Didier admits that the work routine gave him satisfaction and purpose. Even so, he recognized that it was the right time to leave. “I really like my job, but I realized it was time to make room for the new generation.”
Since then, he has organized his time and resources in a balanced way. “I managed to build up a significant amount of real estate. I have a house in Paris and a holiday residence in Sologne, where I spend most of my time with my wife,” he explained.
Demanding and lacking profession
Despite the high remuneration, the judicial agent profession in France continues to face a lack of professionals. According to data from the National Chamber of Judicial Commissioners, between 100 and 120 new graduates enter the sector every year, when between 150 and 180 would be needed to respond to needs.
This deficit also helps justify the higher levels of compensation and pensions in this area. This is a role with a strong legal component, demanding schedules and high responsibility, which requires constant updating, according to the same source.
An example of stability and dedication
Didier’s trajectory is representative of a generation that valued professional stability and dedication to public service. In his case, the result was a long career and an above-average retirement value. In the end, it mainly highlights the feeling of mission accomplished. “I worked a lot, but I liked what I did. Now I live my retirement with peace of mind”, he concluded, quoted by Le Figaro.
What would it be like in Portugal?
In Portugal, a similar case can fit into two distinct profiles. On the one hand, there is the enforcement agent, a self-employed professional regulated by the Order of Solicitors and Execution Agents, who makes payments to the Lawyers and Solicitors Pension Fund (CPAS) through levels.
In this model, the pension results from conventional remuneration and a training rate close to 2% per year on these bases, with the history of levels throughout the career being decisive. The final value always depends on the actual contributory career.
Bailiff
On the other hand, there is the figure of the bailiff, a State worker integrated into the courts. Professionals who joined before 2005 were covered by the Caixa Geral de Aposentações (CGA), while those who joined after 2006 became part of the general Social Security regime. In this context, the annual pension formation rate varies between 2% and 2.3%, and can reach a maximum of 40 years of career, according to Decree-Law nº 187/2007.
In general, the values practiced in Portugal are lower than the 4,205 euros per month received by Didier, the result of a long career, senior roles and the accumulation of different contributory schemes.
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