Meteorologia

  • 21 SEPTEMBER 2024
Tempo
17º
MIN 16º MÁX 24º

Figueira da Foz struggling to hire lifeguards

The Figueira da Foz City Council, in the district of Coimbra, is having difficulties hiring lifeguards for surveillance and assistance to bathers during the bathing season, which starts on June 1st.

Figueira da Foz struggling to hire lifeguards
Notícias ao Minuto

20:39 - 10/05/24 por Lusa

País Figueira da Foz

The public tender launched in early April for the hiring of 82 lifeguards was deserted, similar to what happened in 2023, despite the municipality having increased the value of the salaries by about 20%.

In today's City Council session, the operational manager of the Municipal Civil Protection, João Matias, reported that the tender had no candidates and that the municipality will start hiring by direct adjustment.

According to João Matias, 57 resumes of interested parties have already been submitted, of which 45 are available from June 1st, and there are training courses underway that can provide more lifeguards.

"On the same date, the situation this year is better than in 2023", said the official, regretting that, from year to year, there are fewer young people attending training courses.

For the Mayor, Pedro Santana Lopes, the legislation on whale watching has contradictions that it was important to clarify, because responsibility should also be extended to the maritime authorities.

"The law says that the municipality must ensure payment in non-concession areas and beach support in concession areas, but that seems absurd to me", said the mayor, referring to the fact that, in the previous two years, the City Council advanced the money for hiring.

Stressing that the lack of lifeguards led to an increase in salaries, Santana Lopes stressed that the problem will not be "easy to solve" and that everything is thrown "onto the councils".

In this year's tender, the municipality of Figueira da Foz had estimated an investment of 600 thousand euros in the hiring of 82 lifeguards for surveillance and assistance to bathers during the bathing season.

Since the Easter period, the local authority has had six lifeguards in service, supported by two four-wheelers.

Read Also: Mayor of Figueira da Foz considers the acquisition of a swimming pool "balanced" (Portuguese version)

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