Eiffel Tower Reopens After Strike Over Female Staff Exclusion During Hindu Group Visit

The Eiffel Tower was closed on Monday after staff went on strike over female workers being removed from their positions for the visit of a delegation linked to the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) group on Saturday, according to workers and management.

Union representative Diane Davoine said that as the delegation of around 100 people arrived, women were asked to leave their places of work in order to place men there. "So that absolutely does not go down well with the employees, with women obviously, who are all humiliated by what happened, by the way some were treated," Davoine told Reuters.

Société d'Exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE), the company that operates the monument, confirmed the delegation had requested that the visit be organised to limit "interactions with women", according to the AFP news agency. The firm told AFP that "these conditions should not have been accepted" and that they "were not in line with SETE's values, nor with the principles of equality between men and women".

SETE President Ariel Weil said: "It is clearly not an acceptable practice. I restate the Eiffel Tower's commitment to republican values and to the equality of men and women."

Davoine said management had since apologised to workers over the incident, but tensions mounted over the weekend, leading to Monday's strike action and closure. The tower has now resumed normal operations.

Why This Matters

The incident highlights tensions between secular workplace equality standards and accommodating religious requests at public landmarks in France, a country with strict laïcité (secularism) laws.
The strike caused disruption for thousands of tourists at one of the world's most visited monuments, demonstrating the power of collective action in response to perceived discrimination.
It raises broader questions about how cultural and religious sensitivities should be balanced against workplace gender equality principles in public-facing institutions.

Background

The Eiffel Tower, owned by the City of Paris and operated by SETE, is one of the world's most visited monuments, drawing millions of tourists annually. The Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) is a Hindu denomination with a significant international presence. The incident occurred on Saturday when a delegation of about 100 people linked to BAPS visited the tower. Union representatives said women staff were asked to leave their workstations so men could be placed in those roles, which sparked anger and ultimately led to strike action on Monday, resulting in the closure of the tower for the day.

Key Perspectives

Staff and Union Representatives: Led by Diane Davoine, they argue that female employees were humiliated by being asked to leave their posts to accommodate a religious group's request. They demand guarantees that such treatment will not recur. SETE Management: Have acknowledged the request was wrong, apologised to workers, and stated the conditions "should not have been accepted" as they violate the company's values and principles of gender equality. BAPS Group: No statement has been reported from the delegation regarding their specific request or its rationale.

What to Watch

Whether further disciplinary or policy changes are implemented at SETE regarding handling of special visit requests.
Potential for broader legal or public debate in France about balancing religious accommodation with secular equality norms in public spaces.
Any further strike action or protests by workers if they are dissatisfied with management's response.

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