Eiffel Tower shut by staff protest after female workers moved for religious visit - BBC

**Eiffel Tower Shut After Staff Protest Over Alleged Relocation of Female Workers for Hindu Group Visit**

Paris – The Eiffel Tower was temporarily closed on Monday after a group of employees staged a walk‑out in protest of what they described as the “sidelining” of female staff members during a scheduled visit by a Hindu cultural delegation. Workers from the tower’s maintenance and hospitality teams said they were instructed to move female colleagues away from the viewing platforms and service areas to accommodate the group’s religious practices, a move they claim violated French labor and anti‑discrimination laws. The protest began around 10 a.m. local time and lasted for several hours, prompting the tower’s management to suspend public access while negotiations with union representatives took place.

Union leaders, representing the Service d’Assistance et de Sécurité (SAS) and the Fédération des Services Publics, said the decision to relocate women was made without prior consultation and singled out staff based on gender and religious considerations. “We are not opposed to cultural visits, but the way this was handled—by moving female workers out of their regular duties—undermines the principles of equality enshrined in French law,” said union spokesperson Marie‑Claire Dupont. The tower’s operator, Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), issued a brief statement acknowledging the concerns and confirming that an internal review would be launched. SETE added that the Hindu group’s visit had been arranged through the city’s cultural affairs department and that no policy explicitly mandated the removal of female staff.

The incident has sparked a broader debate in France about the accommodation of religious practices in public spaces and the protection of workers’ rights. Government officials, including the Minister for Labour, Elisabeth Borne, called for a swift resolution and reminded employers that any workplace adjustments must comply with anti‑discrimination statutes. Meanwhile, representatives of the Hindu cultural organization defended their itinerary, saying they had only requested a respectful environment for their rituals and did not intend to cause any staffing disruptions. The Eiffel Tower reopened to visitors later in the afternoon after the dispute was temporarily settled, but the union has warned that further actions could follow if the review does not address their grievances.

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