Eiffel Tower Reopens After Staff Protest Over Women Being Sidelined

The Eiffel Tower reopened on Tuesday, a day after the landmark was closed following a staff strike over management instructions that allegedly limited the presence of women employees during a visit by a Hindu delegation. The dispute involved a delegation from Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), which was in Paris as part of celebrations surrounding the inauguration of a traditional Hindu stone temple in the French capital.

Diane Davoine of the CGT union told The Associated Press that tensions grew among Eiffel Tower employees after management instructed female workers not to be in contact with the visiting delegation of around 100 people on Saturday. Davoine described the instructions as exceptional and unacceptable, noting that staff members regularly accommodate special delegations and high-profile visitors at the 330-metre landmark.

BAPS, a global religious and civic organisation within the Swaminarayan tradition, later apologised for the controversy. In a written statement, the organisation explained that it had coordinated with Eiffel Tower management to minimise disruption to employees and visitors ahead of the delegation's visit. BAPS maintained that the coordination was never intended as a request based on gender and offered sincere apologies to anyone who was hurt or inconvenienced by the situation.

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The organisation also reaffirmed its commitment to equality and mutual respect, stressing that these principles apply regardless of gender, background or belief. The statement came amid criticism over the reported instructions concerning women employees. The company operating the Eiffel Tower did not immediately issue a public comment on the dispute, while the controversy prompted wider discussion about workplace equality at one of France's most recognisable landmarks.

Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire also announced that he would launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. In a message on X, he emphasised that gender equality should apply throughout Paris, including at the city's historic monuments. The Eiffel Tower, which is 137 years old and attracts around seven million visitors annually, regularly hosts visitors from around the world and special delegations.

The reopening followed the industrial action that closed the landmark on Monday. It was not the first time the Eiffel Tower has been affected by a staff strike, as employees previously shut the site for six days in February 2024 during a dispute over maintenance of the historic structure and wages. The latest incident has placed renewed attention on the balance between accommodating visiting delegations and maintaining workplace equality standards.

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