Key facts
- Female employees at the Eiffel Tower were allegedly asked to step aside for a visiting Hindu delegation.
- The incident led to a staff strike and delayed opening of the landmark.
- Paris city authorities are investigating the claims of discrimination.
- French politicians across the spectrum have condemned the alleged actions.
- The operating company confirmed the delegation requested the visit be organized to limit interactions with women.
Eiffel Tower staff went on strike Monday, delaying the landmark's opening, following allegations that female employees were asked to step aside to accommodate a visiting Hindu delegation. The incident occurred during a private visit by approximately 100 members of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) group on Saturday.
Union representatives reported that women were told to leave their posts, causing humiliation. The operating company, Société d'Exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE), confirmed the delegation's request to limit interactions with women, acknowledging that these conditions were unacceptable and contrary to the company's principles of equality.
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire deemed the employees' discontent legitimate and pledged a thorough investigation, emphasizing the universal application of gender equality. Several prominent French politicians, including Marine Le Pen and Aurore Bergé, publicly condemned the alleged discriminatory actions, asserting that visitors should not dictate women's roles.
The BAPS group, in Paris for the inauguration of their first major temple in France, stated the visit was arranged in coordination with the Eiffel Tower team to avoid disruption and apologized for any inconvenience, affirming their commitment to universal values of mutual respect.