Paris, France – On Saturday a Hindu religious delegation from the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) visited the Eiffel Tower. Union representatives say female staff were instructed to step away from their posts so that men could take their places while the visitors passed through.

Staff protest and city response

Employees gathered on Monday evening, closing the monument for a brief period, to voice their anger and demand that such treatment never happen again. “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,” union spokesperson Diane Davoine told Reuters.

Signs at the tower’s base announced a delayed opening for “operational reasons,” while management issued an apology to staff for the incident.

Mayor’s investigation

Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire announced on X that the city will launch an investigation “as soon as possible” and affirmed that the employees’ anger is legitimate. “It is urgent that all light be shed on the facts that led to this protest,” he wrote.

National Assembly President Yael Braun‑Pivet also condemned the episode, stating, “Welcoming others never means giving up our values. In France, women are fully present in public life. No one tells them to become invisible.”

Context of the visit

The BAPS delegation was in France for celebrations surrounding the inauguration of a new Hindu temple in the Paris suburbs. Spokespersons for BAPS and SETE, the company that operates the Eiffel Tower, have not responded to requests for comment.

This incident highlights ongoing concerns about gender equity in the workplace and the need for municipal authorities to ensure that public institutions uphold France’s commitment to equal treatment for all citizens.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.