Cyprus announces reform plans for lifeguard services and waste management infrastructure

The Cypriot Ministry of the Interior announced a radical overhaul of the national lifeguard system effective from 2027. Currently, 80 out of 374 lifeguard positions remain vacant. The new reform aims to address these staffing shortages by extending duty hours until 19:00 during the peak summer months of June, July, and August, and by transferring certification responsibilities to the Human Resource Development Authority to expand the number of qualified training organizations.

Simultaneously, the Union of Municipalities of Cyprus has expressed opposition to the government's plan to implement the 'Pay As You Throw' waste management system by early 2027. Municipalities argue that the proposal is unrealistic due to a lack of current infrastructure for household organic waste collection. While the government has earmarked €25 million for these necessary upgrades, local authorities warn that forced implementation could cause more problems than it solves. In other policy developments, the Ministry of Education is expanding the number of full-day schools from 220 to 381 with an investment of €6 million to address systemic appointment issues, with primary schools set to resume operations on September 14.