Cyprus faces lifeguard shortages in coastal districts

Cyprus is facing difficulties in filling seasonal lifeguard positions, particularly those with three- or four-month contracts. Andreas Karvounis, an official from the Ministry of Interior’s Beach Safety Unit, stated that while there are 377 approved lifeguard positions this year, vacancies persist annually.

The most significant shortages are concentrated in the districts of Paphos, Limassol, and Larnaca. While Nicosia has successfully filled all its positions due to lower numbers, and Famagusta has some vacancies, the coastal hubs face the greatest challenges.

Karvounis noted that the short duration of three-month contracts acts as a deterrent for individuals seeking greater job stability. Although these roles were traditionally filled by students or those seeking summer work, the Ministry of Interior is exploring new frameworks to address the issue and increase the number of filled positions.