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

The Eiffel Tower was closed on Monday following a strike by staff in response to the treatment of female workers during a visit by a Hindu religious group. A delegation of approximately 100 individuals from the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) visited the landmark in Paris on Saturday. According to staff union representative Diane Davoine, women were instructed to leave their work areas to accommodate male visitors. Davoine stated that management later apologized for the incident, which caused humiliation among female employees. She noted that tensions escalated over the weekend, prompting employees to seek dialogue with management to prevent similar occurrences in the future. The Société d'Exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE), which operates the Eiffel Tower, confirmed that the delegation requested arrangements to limit interactions with women, which they acknowledged should not have been accepted. SETE president Ariel Weil emphasized the company's commitment to equality between men and women, stating that such practices are unacceptable. The BAPS group, which consecrated its first major temple in France on Sunday, expressed regret for any distress caused and highlighted their values of mutual respect. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire announced an investigation into the visit's circumstances, affirming that employee concerns are valid. French political figures, including Marine Le Pen and Gabriel Attal, condemned the limitations placed on women during the visit, asserting that such practices are not acceptable in France.