Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Eiffel Tower Chief to Step Down After BAPS Visit Row
A Hindu religious group visited the Eiffel Tower in Paris in September.
During the visit, some women employees were reportedly moved away, replaced or told not to enter certain areas.
Eiffel Tower workers protested by briefly going on strike, and the tower closed for a day.
French politicians criticised the arrangements because they said men and women should be treated equally.
An investigation found problems in how the visit was organised.
It did not find a written request from the visiting group asking that women be excluded.
However, the tower’s operator said the women’s removal was unacceptable.
The company’s chief, Patrick Branco Ruivo, will leave his job at the end of the year.
BAPS said it did not ask for women to be removed and apologised for any pain or inconvenience.
Patrick Branco Ruivo will leave the Eiffel Tower operating company at the end of the year.
An inquiry found collective dysfunction and no written request from BAPS to exclude women employees.
SETE said operational flaws led to the unacceptable removal or sidelining of female staff during the September 5 visit.
The dispute prompted a staff walkout, a one-day closure and criticism from French politicians over gender equality.
BAPS denied requesting that women be removed, apologised for any inconvenience and said nobody was prevented from entering.
- Who
- Patrick Branco Ruivo, Société d’exploitation de la Tour Eiffel, Eiffel Tower employees and the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha delegation.
- What
- Ruivo will step down after a dispute over female employees being removed or sidelined during the delegation’s visit and an inquiry into how the visit was organised.
- When
- The visit took place on September 5; staff walked out on September 7; Ruivo is expected to leave at the end of the year.
- Where
- The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
- Why
- The operator said operational flaws led to unacceptable treatment of female employees, while BAPS rejected claims that it requested their exclusion.
Eiffel Tower Management and Staff
BAPS Paris
Whether women were excluded at the group’s request
Eiffel Tower Management and Staff
SETE and staff said female employees were sidelined, replaced, made to stay out of sight or restricted from crossing certain areas, and that such conditions should not have been accepted.
BAPS Paris
BAPS rejected claims that it asked authorities to remove, replace or hide female employees and said that, to its knowledge, nobody was prevented from accessing the Eiffel Tower.
What the investigation established
Eiffel Tower Management and Staff
The operator’s internal probe found operational flaws and shortcomings that resulted in the unacceptable removal of women employees.
BAPS Paris
The General Inspectorate found no written request from the delegation to exclude women from the entire procession, suggesting that instructions may have been distorted as they circulated informally.
Responsibility and response
Eiffel Tower Management and Staff
The company accepted consequences through Ruivo’s departure and proposed a protocol department, new measures and gender-equality training.
BAPS Paris
BAPS said the large delegation’s visit was coordinated with the Eiffel Tower team at the start of normal opening hours to avoid disruption, while apologising for any pain or inconvenience.
- Departing chief
- Patrick Branco Ruivo will leave his role at the end of the year.
- Investigation finding
- The inquiry found collective dysfunction but no written request from the Hindu delegation to exclude women from the entire procession.
- Reported staff treatment
- Female employees were reportedly removed from posts, replaced by men in some locations or told not to cross certain areas.
- Staff protest
- Eiffel Tower employees held a brief walkout on September 7, and the landmark closed for one day.
- Company response
- SETE described the removal of women employees as unacceptable and cited operational flaws and shortcomings in organising the visit.
- Planned reforms
- The company plans a dedicated protocol department and new measures and training promoting gender equality.
- BAPS response
- BAPS said it did not know of anyone being prevented from entering the tower, apologised for any pain or inconvenience and said the visit was arranged to avoid disruption.
