**Lifeguard Positions Remain Unfilled Across Cyprus Amid Seasonal Employment Challenges**
The Interior Ministry of Cyprus has reported ongoing difficulties in filling vacant lifeguard positions, particularly those tied to short-term contracts of three and four months. This issue is most pronounced in popular coastal areas such as Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca, where the majority of vacancies exist. In contrast, Nicosia has successfully filled all its lifeguard positions, albeit with a smaller number of available roles.
Andreas Karvounis, a beach safety unit officer, highlighted that the total number of approved lifeguard positions this year stands at 377. Among these, 107 are permanent roles, while the remainder consists of contracts lasting three, four, six, eight, or eleven months. The three-month contracts are typically filled by students or individuals seeking seasonal work during the summer months, which poses a challenge for maintaining consistent beach safety.
Karvounis acknowledged the difficulties associated with short-term contracts and mentioned that the ministry is exploring alternative frameworks to address these staffing issues. He emphasized that the scheduling of lifeguards varies based on factors such as beach traffic, risk levels, and available personnel, which can complicate staffing efforts.
Despite the annual vacancies, the ministry is committed to increasing the number of lifeguard positions each year. However, the seasonal nature of lifeguard employment continues to be a significant barrier to filling these roles adequately.
Polis Pallikaros, president of the Cyprus Lifeguard Federation, expressed concerns over proposals to reduce staffing levels at lifeguard towers as a means to mitigate the staffing shortages. He argued that such measures would conflict with international safety standards and could compromise the effectiveness of rescue operations. Pallikaros has advocated for an increase in the number of permanent or ten-month lifeguard positions, particularly in areas where staffing needs are the most pressing, such as Limassol and Paphos.
As the summer season progresses, the Interior Ministry and relevant stakeholders are actively seeking solutions to ensure adequate lifeguard coverage on Cyprus's beaches, aiming to enhance safety for both residents and tourists alike.