Paris’s iconic Eiffel Tower was temporarily shut on Monday following staff protests triggered by allegations of gender discrimination during a private visit by a Hindu religious delegation over the weekend.
Workers at the monument launched a protest in solidarity with female employees who were reportedly asked to limit interactions with the visiting group, leading to a meeting over the incident and the tower's closure for the day.
The episode has drawn criticism from staff, trade unions, and prominent French politicians, prompting an immediate investigation by Paris city authorities.
The incident occurred on Saturday when a delegation of approximately 100 individuals linked to the Hindu religious group Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) made a private visit to the Eiffel Tower.
Sete, the company operating the monument, acknowledged that the delegation had requested that the visit be organised to ensure limited “interactions with women.” Sete admitted that "the conditions should not have been accepted" as they were "not in line with Sete’s values, now with the principle of equality between men and women,” according to reports by France 24. The company further stated its readiness to accept the "consequences."
The General Confederation of Labour (CGT) trade union, representing the workers, strongly condemned the alleged actions. In a statement, the union criticised “workplace instructions that led to female employees being sidelined, replaced and rendered invisible on the basis of their gender.”
The union’s statement detailed the reported treatment of female staff: "Some were asked to leave their posts and withdraw to other areas. In some posts they were replaced by men. And all female employees were instructed not to go through or cross certain areas while the delegation was present."
With tensions escalating over the weekend, staff resolved to meet on Monday. Their demands included an open dialogue with management and assurances that female employees would not be subjected to such treatment by the company again.
Signs were placed at the base of the tower on Monday, informing visitors that “the opening of the Eiffel Tower is delayed for operational reasons.” The monument, which typically receives nearly seven million visitors annually, was shut for the entire day on Monday but resumed normal operations on Tuesday.
French politicians swiftly reacted to the allegations. Emmanuel Gregoire, the Deputy Mayor of Paris, stated that an investigation would be launched "as soon as possible," acknowledging the legitimacy of the workers’ anger. "It is urgent that all light be shed on the facts that led to this protest," Mr Gregoire wrote.
Aurore Bergé, France's Equality Minister, expressed her indignation on social media platform X, writing: "In France, we do not ask women to erase themselves. No dogma, no religion is above the laws of the Republic."
Yael Braun-Pivet, President of the National Assembly, echoed this sentiment, posting on X: "Welcoming others never means giving up our values. In France, women are fully present in public life. No one tells them to become invisible."
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, a prominent figure in France’s political landscape, also commented, asserting that France would “never accept that women’s presence be ‘limited’.”
In response to the controversy, BAPS issued a statement asserting that the visit to the Eiffel Tower was organised at the beginning of the day to avoid disrupting other visitors, given the size of the group.
The statement added: "To the best of our knowledge, at no point was anyone prevented access to the Eiffel Tower. Nevertheless, we sincerely apologise for any pain or inconvenience caused." BAPS further stated: “We are deeply committed to the universal values of mutual respect and service to others. We respect the concerns raised and take them very seriously.”
BAPS, which is known to have close ties with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, consecrated its first major temple in France on Sunday. Mr Modi had congratulated BAPS on the consecration ceremony, addressing the gathering via a video message. He stated: “Today, in the capital of France, Paris, a magnificent Swaminarayan temple is being inaugurated. This inauguration is a new era of cultural relations between India and France.”
