The Eiffel Tower was closed on Monday after its employees went on strike over the alleged sidelining of female workers during a visit by a Hindu religious group linked to the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).
Around 100 people associated with BAPS visited the Paris landmark on Saturday. Staff representatives alleged that female employees were asked to leave their work areas so that male employees could take their places during the group’s visit.
Women Workers Asked to Step Aside
Diane Davoine, a representative of the CGT union, told Reuters that women workers were asked to leave their positions during the visit.
“During the visit of this delegation, women were asked to leave their places of work in order to place men there,” Davoine said.
She said the incident angered employees, particularly the women involved, and described them as feeling humiliated by the way they were treated.
“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,” Davoine said.
The Eiffel Tower’s operating company, Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), confirmed that the visiting group had requested that the tour be organised to limit “interactions with women”.
The company acknowledged that the request should not have been accepted.
“These conditions should not have been accepted,” SETE said, adding that they were not consistent with its values or the principle of equality between men and women.
Eiffel Tower Operator Calls Incident Unacceptable
SETE president Ariel Weil said the treatment of female workers was unacceptable.
“It is clearly not an acceptable practice,” Weil said, reaffirming the Eiffel Tower’s commitment to “republican values and to the equality of men and women”.
He later said that no religious reason could justify treating people differently on the basis of gender.
“No motive of a religious order could justify a distinction based on gender or any other discriminatory consideration in welcoming the public,” Weil said.
The tower remained closed throughout Monday because of the strike. It was expected to reopen on Tuesday.
Paris Mayor Announces Investigation
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said an investigation would be launched into the circumstances surrounding the visit.
“I am taking note of the anger expressed by the employees of the Eiffel Tower, and I want to tell them that their discontent is legitimate,” he said.
“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,” Grégoire added.
French politicians also criticised the incident. Hard-right leader Marine Le Pen said France would not accept restrictions being placed on women.
Former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said, “In France, no culture, no belief, no worship, nothing nor anyone can come to dictate to women their place.”
National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet said she would not accept women being required to step aside to meet the demands of foreign visitors.
BAPS Apologises for “Pain or Inconvenience”
BAPS said the visit had been arranged with the Eiffel Tower team and was scheduled at the start of normal opening hours.
In a statement, the organisation said the arrangement was intended “to avoid disrupting or inconveniencing others”.
It apologised “for any pain or inconvenience caused” and said it believed in “the universal values of mutual respect and service”.
BAPS describes itself as a Hindu spiritual and volunteer organisation with roots in the Vedic tradition. The organisation recently inaugurated its first major temple in France, located near Paris.
