Eiffel Tower shut as staff strike over ‘gender bias’ during Hindu team’s visit
Workers allege female staff were sidelined for BAPS delegation; Paris officials call inquiry, company admits error, BAPS issues apology statement
The Eiffel Tower was shut down on Monday (September 7) after its staff members staged a strike over allegations that female employees were sidelined and removed from view during a private visit by a Hindu religious group two days back.
Around 100 members of the BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) spiritual movement visited the monument following the inauguration of their first major temple in the Paris suburbs on Saturday.
Women made ‘invisible’
Staff unions alleged that professional instructions were given to make female workers “invisible” during the delegation’s presence, with some women being asked to leave their posts or replaced by men.
Diane Davoine, a union representative, told French TV that female workers had been “moved away from their workstations as the delegation passed by” during a visit on Saturday. Outraged by the directives, employees walked off the job on Monday, condemning the violation of workplace gender equality.
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The Eiffel Tower Operating Company (SETE) acknowledged that the delegation had requested limits on interactions with women, admitting publicly that “these conditions should not have been accepted”.
Condemnation by French officials
Paris officials, including Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire, called the arrangement unacceptable and announced a formal inquiry into the management’s actions.
“These are not my values, nor are they the values that the Eiffel Tower should uphold, where everyone must be able to move about and act freely, without distinction between women and men,” he wrote, adding that an investigation into the incident would be launched.
Yael Braun-Pivet, president of the National Assembly, also condemned the incident.
“I refuse to accept that women should be told to step aside to meet the demands of foreign visitors,” she said. “Welcoming others never means giving up our values. In France, women are fully present in public life. No one tells them to become invisible there.”
BAPS issues statement
The BAPS Hindu Mandir of Paris responded to the allegation in a social media post written in French, saying they “understand the concerns expressed and take them very seriously”. However, it claimed that to its knowledge, “at no time was access to the Eiffel Tower denied to anyone”.
It added that since the Hindu delegation was considerably large, the visit was organized at the start of normal opening hours, “to limit as much as possible any disruption for other visitors”.
“Nevertheless, we wish to offer our sincere apologies to anyone who may have been hurt or inconvenienced by this situation. We are deeply committed to the universal values of mutual respect and service to others,” the statement added.
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The landmark remained closed through Monday but is expected to reopen as normal on Tuesday.