Eiffel Tower shut after staff strike over female workers’ removal during BAPS visit

The Eiffel Tower in Paris closed on Monday after staff went on strike to protest female employees being removed from duties during Saturday’s visit by a Hindu religious delegation from BAPS.

About 100 people linked to the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha visited the landmark. Female employees were told to leave their work areas and were instructed not to pass through certain zones while the delegation was present.

Operator launches internal investigation

Société d’Exploitation de la tour Eiffel said the conditions were inconsistent with its values and with equality between men and women. Ariel Weil, the company’s president, said managers had been overzealous in following the request and described the incident as “totally shocking and unacceptable.”

An internal investigation will establish who imposed the conditions and seek to ensure that the situation does not happen again. Union representative Diane Davoine said female staff felt humiliated; employees met on Monday to discuss the incident with management and demand safeguards against similar treatment.

BAPS explains Paris visit

BAPS said the visit had been arranged with the Eiffel Tower team at the start of normal opening hours to avoid inconveniencing other visitors. The group apologised for any pain or inconvenience and said it believed in mutual respect and service.

BAPS practices strict separation of men and women, including during temple activities and at building entrances. On Sunday, the movement consecrated its first major temple in France in a Paris suburb.

French politicians condemn incident

French politicians condemned the episode. Yaël Braun-Pivet, president of France’s National Assembly, said she would not accept women being required to step aside to meet the demands of foreign visitors.

French hard-right leader Marine Le Pen said France would never accept women’s presence being limited. Former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said no culture, belief or religion could dictate women’s place in France.