- Female Eiffel Tower staff asked to be "out of sight".
- Staff went on strike protesting BAPS delegation visit.
- Paris Mayor promises investigation into the incident.
Paris/New Delhi: A major controversy erupted in France after female staff at the popular Eiffel Tower were asked to remain “out of sight” during the visit of a large delegation of a Hindu group. This triggered a massive strike by the female staff. According to a report by news agency AFP, the tourist place was forced to close after staff went on strike to protest the "sidelining" and "replacement" of female employees during a recent visit by a Hindu delegation. The operator of the Paris landmark said the group had requested that the private visit be organised to limit "interactions with women".
What happened on Saturday?
A delegation of about 100 people linked to the Hindu group Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, or BAPS, made a private visit to the Eiffel Tower on Saturday. As the delegation passed through, women were asked to leave their workstations so that men could take their places," Diane Davoine, a union representative, told Reuters.
🔴 La tour Eiffel est restée fermée lundi 7 septembre, après une grève du personnel dénonçant des consignes visant à limiter la présence des femmes lors de la visite d'une délégation hindoue, samedi 5 septembre. Certaines salariées ont été invitées à quitter leur poste et… pic.twitter.com/tP0G7qMpVZ
— franceinfo (@franceinfo) September 7, 2026
"Tensions mounted over the weekend, so this morning, the employees decided to meet: first, to open a dialogue with management, and second, to ensure that women are never treated this way at the company again," she said.
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Signs at the base of the tower on Monday read, "The opening of the Eiffel Tower is delayed for operational reasons." Davoine said management apologised to staff over the incident.
Why did such a large BAPS delegation schedule a visit to the Eiffel Tower?
Notably, BAPS consecrated its first major temple in France on Sunday, near Paris. In order to commemorate the grand event, hundreds of BAPS members took a trip to Paris.
What did BAPS say on the Eiffel Tower controversy?
BAPS, in a statement, rejected the claim that it never asked to exclude female employees during its private visit. Rather, it said that the visit to the Eiffel Tower was arranged at the start of opening hours to avoid disrupting others, due to the size of its delegation.
Nous comprenons les préoccupations exprimées et les prenons très au sérieux.
— BAPS Mandir Swaminarayan Hindou de Paris (@BAPSParis) September 7, 2026
Compte tenu de la taille de notre délégation, la visite a été organisée en coordination avec les équipes de la tour Eiffel, au début des horaires habituels d’ouverture, afin de limiter autant que… pic.twitter.com/gyiwzmh6Jv
"To the best of our knowledge, at no point was anyone prevented from accessing the Eiffel Tower. Nevertheless, we sincerely apologise for any pain or inconvenience caused," the statement said.
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“We are deeply committed to the universal values of mutual respect and service to others,” added the statement.
How did France politicians react to the controversy?
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said that an investigation would be launched "as soon as possible". In a post on social media platform X, he said he was aware of the employees' anger and agreed their dissatisfaction was legitimate. "It is urgent that all light be shed on the facts that led to this protest," Gregoire wrote.
Je prends connaissance du mouvement de colère des salarié·es de la tour Eiffel et je veux leur dire que leur mécontentement est légitime.
— Emmanuel Grégoire (@egregoire) September 7, 2026
Il n’est pas acceptable que de telles conditions puissent être tolérées. Ce ne sont ni mes valeurs, ni celles que doit porter la tour Eiffel,… https://t.co/3srttJpxPo
Yael Braun-Pivet, the president of the National Assembly, wrote in a post 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."
(With inputs from Reuters)