The Eiffel Tower shut down after staff went on a strike following allegations that female employees were sidelined during a private visit by a Hindu religious delegation, reports said.
The dispute reportedly involved around 100 people associated with BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha), a prominent Hindu spiritual organization. According to reports, the delegation requested that arrangements be made to limit interactions with women during its visit.
Eiffel Tower employees alleged that female workers were instructed to leave their workstations, avoid certain areas and, in some cases, were replaced by male colleagues. Union representatives criticized the arrangements, saying they effectively pushed female employees out of their normal duties.
The tower's operating company, Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), acknowledged that the conditions requested for the visit had been accepted. However, management later said that the decision "should not have been accepted" because it conflicted with principles of gender equality.
The incident triggered a strong political response in France. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire condemned the decision as unacceptable and called for an immediate investigation. French Equality Minister Aurore Bergé also reaffirmed the country's commitment to equality, saying that no religious belief can take precedence over French law.
BAPS's Paris temple reportedly issued an apology and said it took the concerns raised by Eiffel Tower employees seriously. The organization said the arrangements were intended to prevent overcrowding and minimize disruption to other tourists, rather than discriminate against women.
The Eiffel Tower remained closed to visitors throughout Monday as workers went on strike. It resumed normal operations on Tuesday after management apologized to staff.
