Eiffel Tower Closes Due to Staff Strike Over Treatment of Female Workers

The Eiffel Tower was closed on Monday following a staff strike related to the treatment of female workers during a visit by a Hindu religious group. According to workers and management, approximately 100 members of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) visited the landmark in Paris on Saturday. Staff union representative Diane Davoine reported that women were instructed to vacate their positions to accommodate male visitors. She stated, "During the visit of this delegation, women were asked to leave their places of work in order to place men there." Davoine mentioned that management had apologized to the affected workers. She added, "Tensions mounted over the weekend, so this morning, the employees decided to meet: first, to open a dialogue with management, and second, to ensure that women are never treated this way at the company again." The Société d'Exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE), which operates the Eiffel Tower, confirmed that the delegation requested the visit be organized to limit "interactions with women." The company stated that these conditions should not have been accepted and are not aligned with its values or the principles of gender equality. SETE president Ariel Weil emphasized that such practices are unacceptable and reaffirmed the Eiffel Tower's commitment to republican values and gender equality. The BBC has reached out to the Union Confédération générale du travail (CGT) for a response. The BAPS group consecrated its first major temple in France on Sunday in the suburbs of Paris. In a statement, the BAPS temple in Paris noted that their visit was arranged to avoid disrupting others and expressed regret for any inconvenience caused. They emphasized their commitment to mutual respect and service. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire announced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the visit, acknowledging the employees' anger as legitimate. He stated, "Equality between women and men will never stop at the foot of our historical monuments, nor anywhere in this city. It must be applied everywhere, for everyone." French political figures, including Marine Le Pen and Gabriel Attal, voiced their opposition to limiting women's presence in public spaces, with Attal asserting that no culture or belief should dictate women's roles. Yaël Braun-Pivet, president of France's National Assembly, also condemned the practice of compelling women to step aside for visitors.