Eiffel Tower Shuts After Staff Protest Over BAPS Visit
The Eiffel Tower was temporarily closed on Monday after employees staged a walkout over allegations that female staff were moved away from their posts during a private visit by a delegation linked to the BAPS Hindu organisation.
Female Eiffel Tower Staff Allegedly Sidelined
The controversy stems from a Saturday visit by around 100 members associated with Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, or BAPS, which had gathered in France following the inauguration of a new temple near Paris.
Employees alleged that female workers were moved from their workstations as the delegation passed through parts of the monument. Staff representatives condemned what they described as instructions that resulted in women being sidelined because of their gender.
The resulting protest forced the Paris landmark to close temporarily on Monday.
Eiffel Tower Operator Admits Request Was Accepted
The company operating the Eiffel Tower acknowledged that the visiting delegation had requested arrangements aimed at limiting interactions with women.
Management said such conditions should not have been accepted and apologised to employees affected by the decision.
Paris authorities have announced an investigation into how the request was handled and why workplace arrangements were altered.
BAPS Apologises Amid Gender Equality Row
BAPS said its visit had been coordinated with Eiffel Tower officials because of the delegation’s size and was scheduled early to minimise disruption to other visitors.
The organisation said it took the concerns seriously and apologised for any pain or inconvenience caused. It also said that, to its knowledge, nobody had been prevented from accessing the monument.
The episode prompted criticism from senior French political figures, who argued that religious accommodation should not result in women being excluded or treated differently in public workplaces.
