Cyprus extends lifeguard hours, reviews short-term contracts after drownings

Local beachessafetyTop News Cyprus extends lifeguard hours, reviews short-term contracts after drownings Nauagosostes 1 Relevant News Cyprus extends lifeguard hours, reviews short-term contracts after drownings 25 August 2026 Investigators await forensic clues from shell casings, stolen car in Ayia Napa murder attempt 25 August 2026 Homeless man arrested in Larnaca after attacking police officer during welfare check 25 August 2026 Angelos Nicolaou 25 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Cyprus’s Interior Ministry is overhauling the staffing model for the country’s 114 lifeguard towers and the certification system for lifeguards from 2027. The move follows a string of drownings and aims to permanently address chronic personnel shortages on Cyprus’s beaches. Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou called a wide-ranging meeting on Monday with officials responsible for beach management, instructing them to review the lifeguards’ seasonal contract system. Among the options under consideration is scrapping three-month and four-month contracts, which have struggled to attract applicants, in favour of longer-term positions that draw far more interest. A central plank of the changes is replacing lifeguard certification issued by the Cyprus Lifesaving Federation with the Human Resource Development Authority’s (HRDA) Professional Qualifications Standard. The switch would let candidates train through private providers and nautical clubs, a move expected to significantly widen interest in the role while cutting the cost of certification. Officials at the meeting examined why 80 of the country’s 374 lifeguard positions remain unfilled. Two main causes were recorded: a chronic struggle to fill shorter-term positions, particularly three-month and four-month contracts, and an overall shortage of qualified lifeguards. The ministry says the two problems are linked, and addressing them together could improve the situation. Ministry data shows 28 of 35 three-month positions, 19 of 39 four-month positions and 31 of 67 six-month positions remain chronically vacant, largely due to low interest. By contrast, only two of 125 eight-month positions are unfilled, showing longer contracts are far more attractive to candidates. The ministry believes offering longer-term contracts could fill more than half of the vacant positions. The minister has given instructions for these changes to take effect from 2027, since this summer’s season is already drawing to a close. Most lifeguard towers are currently staffed only until 6pm, even though people continue swimming after that time. The minister has instructed officials to extend lifeguards’ hours to 7pm during June, July and August, when beach visitor numbers are highest. Officials will also consult district administrations, local authorities and other bodies on adjusting towers’ start times according to each beach’s visitor numbers and risk level, aiming to improve coverage while making operating hours more consistent. After consultations between the ministry, the HRDA and trade unions, the minister has approved replacing the Cyprus Lifesaving Federation’s certificates and medals with the HRDA’s Professional Qualifications Standard. Under the new system, the HRDA would take over certifying lifeguard training, opening the door to training through private providers and nautical clubs, which the ministry says have a large client base. It estimates the change could substantially increase the pool of candidate lifeguards while cutting certification costs. Current lifeguard tower staffing The ministry says this year’s staffing programme was drawn up using the full 2,958 approved person-months allocated for lifeguards, and can be adjusted during the season depending on actual recruitment, visitor numbers and each beach’s risk level. District administrations can extend operating hours at specific lifeguard points through overtime where there is increased need and funds are available; this year, funds are available because a number of approved positions went unfilled. The ministry recently completed a revision of the national beach safety plan, known as SALAMIS, developed in cooperation with all bodies involved. Among the most significant changes, local authorities will for the first time be required to draw up an annual Local Lifesaving Plan, based on a risk assessment of each beach setting out the required number of lifeguard points, operating hours and staffing needs. Where the risk assessment justifies it, a specific point could be staffed with fewer lifeguards, allowing personnel to be used more effectively and cover more locations. Local authorities must submit their Lifesaving Plans by 30 November each year; the ministry will take them into account for the first time when drawing up the 2027 staffing programme. Bringing order to beach operations Beyond lifeguard staffing, the ministry says other aspects of beach management will be put to stakeholders for discussion at a later stage, including clarifying the definition of an “organised beach” by setting specific conditions and infrastructure requirements for safe operation. Under the current Beach Protection Law, “Beach Use Plans” only regulate the placement of sunbeds and umbrellas for services, along with boats, water sports equipment and other facilities. The ministry says including further specifications in these plans, such as changing rooms, toilets, lifeguard towers and other infrastructure, would help bring order to beach operations, with swimmer safety as the primary goal. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Investigators await forensic clues from shell casings, stolen car in Ayia Napa murder attempt Homeless man arrested in Larnaca after attacking police officer during welfare check Police investigate speed of motorcyclist killed in Larnaca crash Four masked suspects steal €4,000 from 10 Paphos shops Wind sweeps toddler out to sea on inflatable off Lady’s Mile Yiannis Providakis: “Good cooking starts with a good product” Things to do on Tuesday, August 25 Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.