Cyprus beaches to lose lifeguard coverage during nationwide workers’ strike

Nicosia, Cyprus. Beaches across Cyprus are expected to have no lifeguard coverage on Thursday as hourly-paid government workers stage a 24-hour nationwide strike, the interior ministry said.

The ministry urged the public to exercise particular caution when swimming or taking part in sea activities at beaches without lifeguard coverage.

Strike participation

Around 11,000 hourly-paid workers are expected to take part in the strike. Of these, about 6,500 are hourly-paid government employees, while a further 5,500 work for the state health services organisation Okypy and school boards and are not on the government payroll.

The interior ministry said lifeguard services in all districts will be affected by the industrial action.

Pay dispute

The finance ministry urged unions on Tuesday to reconsider the strike and return to negotiations, saying their demands would cost €50 million over the three-year collective agreement.

It said the main point of disagreement was the unions’ demand for a general eight per cent pay increase.

According to the ministry, the demands would cost €23 million annually from 2027 onwards, including about €17 million a year linked to the proposed eight per cent general increase.

Government position

The ministry said the increase could not be considered in isolation, as a rise granted to the 6,500 hourly-paid government workers would in practice need to be extended to other staff categories across the public and broader public sector.

It said extending the general salary increase across the public sector would cost more than €300 million annually, an amount it described as beyond the state’s financial capacity.

The finance ministry expressed regret and disappointment over the unions’ decision to strike, noting that five meetings had already been held between the social partners.