Parliament to decide on who gets to certify lifeguards

Local Top NewsTourism Parliament to decide on who gets to certify lifeguards Nicosia Swimming Pool Relevant News Parliament to decide on who gets to certify lifeguards 9 July 2026 Christodoulides pushes for EU-Lebanon strategic agreement in talks with Lebanese foreign minister 9 July 2026 Christodoulides speaks with EU chiefs after Turkey dinner, Cyprus link stressed 9 July 2026 Vassos Vassiliou 9 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The House plenary decides today, Thursday, whether the Cyprus Lifesaving Federation keeps the power to certify lifeguards, a decision that will shape safety standards at public swimming pools. At the Interior Committee’s last session on the regulations, Polys Pallikaros, representing the Federation, raised concerns about lifeguard safety at public pools, pointing to unqualified lifeguards. Pallikaros said some training companies do a good job, but others let people walk in and become certified with little scrutiny. He said one person who helps hotels find lifeguards directs candidates to YouTube videos and online text about what a lifeguard does. According to the committee report before MPs, the regulations aim to amend existing pool rules so that diplomas and certificates issued to safety supervisors at public-use pools would no longer require recognition or certification by the Federation. This covers leisure pools, sports pools and pools at hotels and tourist accommodation. The same report states that the regulations provide for deleting the definition of “lifesaving diploma or certificate,” which currently requires that, for employment as a safety supervisor at public pools, the diploma or certificate come from a school recognised either by the Federation or by the competent authorities of an EU member state, provided it is certified by the Federation. Interior Ministry representatives told MPs that private companies have been found active in lifesaving training, issuing pool lifesaving certificates that are not recognised under the current framework. The ministry said these companies have so far covered most hotel units’ lifeguard hiring needs, and that measures are needed to increase the availability of properly certified staff during the tourist season. The report also states that the regulations seek to introduce a licensing regime for lifesaving training providers similar to the one in place before the current framework took effect. Under the current regulations, a safety supervisor must hold a lifesaving certificate, a first aid certificate, a health certificate and a clean criminal record. The proposed regulation would theoretically apply for a limited period, until the matter is resolved permanently through an institutionally sound solution. The Federation representative objected to deleting the current definition of “lifesaving diploma or certificate,” noting that adopting and implementing a new certification system could take a long time. He said this could raise questions about training standards and service quality among lifeguards staffing pools during the transition period. Lifeguards hired from third countries At the same committee session, an Interior Ministry representative said the Federation, which trains lifeguards, is not itself approved and must apply to register as an association. He also referred to financial interests within the lifesaving sector. MPs heard that the criteria for obtaining a lifesaving diploma or certificate are considered too strict, meaning few people qualify and lifeguards are difficult to find. The shortage is such that pools have hired lifeguards from third countries because no Cypriots are available, the committee was told. A pool cannot operate without a lifeguard, and district administrations cannot find lifeguards to staff beaches either. Certification of lifesaving training providers is expected to be assigned to the Human Resource Development Authority (HRDA). Discussion moved to House plenary Interior Ministry representatives also told the committee that a related regulation on a new certification system for lifesaving training providers would be promoted at a later stage. The parliamentary Interior Committee examined the regulations at a session held on July 2, 2026, and, given their importance during the tourist season, decided to prioritise the discussion. The Interior Committee chair and members, having considered everything put before them, reserved their position on the regulations for the plenary discussion. 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