Summer 2022: Are There No Lifeguards?
If they are not found, the beaches cannot open. Is the mythical figure losing its charm?
There is talk of summer 2022 without lifeguards. This noisy absence could pose a problem for the beaches. In Italy, there are 3–4 thousand missing.
Is the myth of the beach guard losing its charm?
The lifeguard is a legendary figure. In the peninsula, it has always been a point of reference on the beaches. It has inspired comedians but also movie characters. He has always been the playboy of the waterfront.
But also abroad it has its importance and has become the protagonist of the famous series.
THE ALARM
This summer, yet, there are no lifeguards. It would be the fault of the heavy shifts, some subsidiarity policies, and the few new licenses. Also because of the pandemic that stopped everything.
The Confcommercio seaside union denounces the situation. Il Messaggero writes it:
“At the gates of summer, from Versilia to Campania, from Circeo to Salento, at least 3–4 thousand beach guards are missing”.
THE PROBLEM
Thus, about 30–40% of the lifeguards that the beaches need are missing, at least in Italy.
Each establishment must guarantee on average one lifeguard for every hundred meters of beach. In their absence, it is not possible to open.
The Lazio region even organizes free courses to train last-minute lifeguards.
THE WORK
A cooperative that deals with lifeguards stated:
“We offer a contract of 1,500 euros net per month (about 1600 dollars), yet we struggle to find staff”.
It seems that the boys no longer want to do this job. If they live far away, they ask for room and board but the establishments cannot offer them. Also, new aspiring lifeguards often don’t want to work on Saturdays and Sundays.
But the weekend is the busiest time.
SEASON
The issue affects all so-called seasonal jobs. The president of Federalberghi of Forte dei Marmi Paolo Corchia defined it as “A dramatic problem”:
“Besides lifeguards, at least 300,000 seasonal workers are missing in the accommodation facilities of our country”.
