A historic milestone for the professionals responsible for safety and rescue on Canary Islands beaches. Nearly 2,000 lifeguards will benefit from a new collective agreement that significantly boosts their salaries. Employers and worker representatives have reached a deal that includes progressive salary increases, ranging from 40% to over 65% throughout the agreement's term.
This new labor framework not only addresses remuneration but also includes a reduction in annual working hours, decreasing from 1,752 to 1,690 hours, and an increase in staffing levels. The primary objective, according to union sources, is to dignify and professionalize a sector that has historically suffered from considered insufficient salary and working conditions.
With the agreement's implementation, average monthly salaries will range between 1,800 and 1,900 euros. Furthermore, specific supplements are planned for hard-to-fill positions, particularly on islands such as La Gomera, El Hierro, La Palma, and La Graciosa, where remoteness and double insularity have made these roles less attractive. In these cases, monthly paychecks could exceed 2,000 euros.
The agreement, described as a "historic event" by the lifeguards themselves, represents a considerable improvement for those who ensure safety on the coasts. The projected salary increase is 47% over the four years of the agreement's validity, with a strong emphasis placed on increasing the number of personnel, one of the collective's most persistent demands.
The full implementation of the agreement will require its publication in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC) and the subsequent adaptation of public contracts. Many lifeguard services are awarded by municipalities to external companies, and current budgets are based on previous salary conditions.
