The Canary Islands’ first collective agreement for lifeguards is now in force

The Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC) publishes this Thursday, 15 October, the first sector-wide collective agreement for professional surveillance, rescue and lifeguarding in natural aquatic environments. For the first time, it specifically regulates the working conditions of these professionals in the Canary Islands. Signed by the trade unions UGT and CCOO and the Canary Islands Association of Beach Rescue and Surveillance Companies, the agreement will remain in force until 31 December 2030.

The agreement establishes a common employment framework for professionals providing surveillance, prevention, rescue and lifesaving services on publicly owned beaches and at natural swimming pools, as well as in other open-air aquatic areas covered by its scope.

Its publication marks progress in regulating a sector of particular importance to the Canary Islands and, especially, to tourist islands such as Fuerteventura, where lifeguard services play a vital role in keeping residents and visitors safe.

Pay rises

One of the agreement’s main provisions concerns pay. For the professional category of aquatic lifeguard, it sets an annual gross basic salary of €22,127.50 for 2026 and 2027, rising gradually to €24,179.32 in 2030.

The pay scales will take effect on 30 November 2026, with the increases set out for subsequent years.

The agreement provides for two extra payments, in July and December, each equivalent to one month’s basic salary, although employers may choose to pay them pro rata throughout the year.

It also sets supplements for work on public holidays, night shifts and annual training. Specifically, for aquatic lifeguards, the supplement for each hour worked on a public holiday is set at €11.60 in 2026 and 2027.

The pay covered by the agreement includes items traditionally paid as transport and arduous-work supplements, which are now incorporated into the basic salary.

1,690-hour working year and three personal days

The agreement sets standard working time at 1,690 hours of actual work per year. Hours may be scheduled from Monday to Sunday, including Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, according to the needs of surveillance and rescue services.

Workers are entitled to a minimum rest period of twelve hours between shifts and to one and a half uninterrupted days off each week, which may be accumulated over periods of up to fourteen days.

Where a working day exceeds six hours, workers are entitled to a break of at least fifteen minutes. This counts as paid working time. During the break, staff must remain available to respond to potential emergencies.

The agreement also provides for 30 calendar days of paid annual leave and three personal days a year. The latter do not require documentary justification, but are subject to the organisational conditions set out in the agreement.

Compulsory training and regular fitness tests

The agreement gives particular attention to professional preparation. It requires a minimum of ten hours of training and practice each year for certain professional groups, including lifeguards. The hours are intended to update knowledge, practise response protocols and take part in drills.

This training is compulsory and paid, in addition to the standard annual working hours.

The agreement also sets out regular physical and theoretical-practical tests to check that professionals continue to meet the requirements needed to carry out their work safely.

Under the procedures set out in the agreement, failing these tests may constitute grounds for dismissal on objective grounds due to subsequent incapacity, in accordance with the Workers’ Statute.

What it means for municipal lifeguard services in Fuerteventura

A provision of particular interest to Fuerteventura’s town councils is the agreement’s application to public contracts for beach surveillance and rescue services.

It states that, for public-service contracts, the new conditions will apply to those awarded after 30 November 2026.

Contracts awarded and in force before that date will continue to be governed by the collective agreement already in use.

Future tenders for lifeguard services will therefore need to take account of the employment and pay conditions set out in this first sector-wide agreement. This is particularly relevant to the island’s tourist municipalities.

The agreement also regulates the transfer of workers when a service provider changes, with the aim of supporting job stability and ensuring continuity for staff who meet the specified requirements.

With its official publication, the Canary Islands now has its own sector-wide framework for regulating the working conditions of professionals responsible for prevention, surveillance and rescue in its natural aquatic areas.