Cyprus parliament amends lifeguard certification requirements for public pools

On Thursday, the plenary session of the Cypriot Parliament unanimously approved regulatory amendments regarding swimming pools. These changes temporarily remove the requirement for lifeguards at public, hotel, and sports facility pools to have their qualifications and certificates recognized or certified by the Cyprus Lifesaving Federation. The amendment removes a provision that previously mandated training from schools recognized by either the Federation or an EU member state authority. According to the Parliamentary Interior Committee, this transition aims to address staffing shortages during the tourist season while the state works toward a permanent licensing framework involving the Human Resource Development Authority (HRDA). Aristos Damianou, chair of the Interior Committee, stated that the move prioritizes swimmer safety amid current systemic shortcomings. Conversely, the Cyprus Lifesaving Federation, led by Polys Pallikaros, has expressed concerns regarding potential safety risks, citing the existence of unqualified entities and individuals acting as lifeguards. The federation argues that while staffing issues are significant, the current system should have been addressed by increasing permanent staff rather than deregulating the certification process.