Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Eiffel Tower Staff Strike Over Women Sidelined During BAPS Visit
The Eiffel Tower was temporarily closed because its workers held a protest.
They said some women workers were told to move away during a private visit by a Hindu group.
Workers also said some women were replaced by men or told not to enter certain areas.
The group was linked to BAPS and had about 100 people.
The visit was connected to events for a Hindu temple near Paris.
The Eiffel Tower’s operator said the reported arrangements should not have been accepted.
Paris officials ordered an investigation into what happened.
BAPS said the visit had been planned with tower staff to reduce disruption.
It apologized to anyone who was hurt or inconvenienced and said it did not know of anyone being denied entry.
Eiffel Tower employees walked out on Monday, delaying the landmark’s opening and reportedly closing it for the day.
Unions alleged that female workers were moved from posts, replaced by men, or barred from certain areas during a private BAPS delegation visit.
The delegation included about 100 people and was in France for events linked to the inauguration of a BAPS temple near Paris.
SETE acknowledged that limiting interactions with women had been requested, but said those conditions should not have been accepted.
BAPS said the visit was coordinated to reduce disruption, apologized for any hurt or inconvenience, and said it knew of no visitor being denied access.
- Who
- Eiffel Tower employees and unions, SETE, a BAPS delegation of about 100 people, Paris officials, and French political leaders.
- What
- Employees protested allegations that female staff were sidelined, replaced, or restricted during a private delegation visit, leading to the tower’s temporary closure.
- When
- The delegation visit was reported mainly as taking place on Saturday, September 5, 2026, although one report described it as Sunday; the protest and closure occurred on Monday, September 7, 2026.
- Where
- The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
- Why
- Workers objected to reported arrangements intended to limit the delegation’s interactions with women; the visit was linked to events surrounding the inauguration of a BAPS temple near Paris.
Employees, Unions and French Officials
BAPS and Visit Organizers
Treatment of female employees
Employees, Unions and French Officials
Workers and unions said women were sidelined, replaced, or prevented from moving through certain areas because of their gender, describing the treatment as humiliating and discriminatory.
BAPS and Visit Organizers
BAPS said it took the concerns seriously and upheld mutual respect, but its statements did not provide a detailed account of the alleged instructions.
Responsibility for the arrangements
Employees, Unions and French Officials
SETE said the request to limit interactions with women should not have been accepted and was inconsistent with its values and France’s principles of gender equality.
BAPS and Visit Organizers
BAPS said the visit was arranged in coordination with Eiffel Tower staff because of the delegation’s size and was scheduled at the beginning of opening hours to reduce disruption.
Effect on visitors
Employees, Unions and French Officials
The staff action delayed the tower’s opening and, according to several reports, kept the landmark closed throughout Monday.
BAPS and Visit Organizers
BAPS said the visit was intended to minimize inconvenience and that, to its knowledge, no one was denied access to the Eiffel Tower.
- Delegation
- About 100 people linked to Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, or BAPS.
- Reported instructions
- Female employees were allegedly told to leave posts, move elsewhere, avoid certain areas, or make themselves invisible; some were reportedly replaced by men.
- Tower operator
- Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel, or SETE.
- Closure
- The staff action delayed the Eiffel Tower’s opening and reports said it remained closed throughout Monday, with reopening expected Tuesday.
- Investigation
- Paris authorities and SETE said the circumstances surrounding the arrangements would be examined.
- BAPS response
- BAPS said the visit was coordinated at the start of normal opening hours to minimize disruption and apologized for any pain or inconvenience.
- Political reaction
- Paris officials and French politicians criticized the reported arrangements and defended gender equality.
Sources
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