Eiffel Tower reopens after staff strike over treatment of women during BAPS visit

The Eiffel Tower reopened to visitors on Tuesday after being closed for a day following a staff strike over allegations that female employees were asked to leave their positions during a visit by a Hindu religious delegation.

The dispute arose after approximately 100 members of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, commonly known as BAPS, visited the landmark on Saturday.

The delegation was in France for the inauguration of a major BAPS Hindu temple in Bussy-Saint-Georges, located east of Paris.

According to employees at the Eiffel Tower, female staff members were instructed to leave their workstations and stay away from areas where the delegation was present.

Some women were reportedly replaced by male colleagues during the visit, prompting concerns among staff and eventually leading to a protest.

Diane Davoine, a representative of the Eiffel Tower staff union, said female employees felt humiliated by being removed from their regular duties.

The dispute escalated into a staff walkout on Monday, forcing the Eiffel Tower to close to visitors for the entire day.

Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), the company responsible for operating the landmark, acknowledged that the delegation had requested arrangements designed to limit interactions with women.

The operator said those conditions should not have been accepted and acknowledged that management had gone too far in attempting to accommodate the request.

SETE President Ariel Weil said managers had been “overzealous” in implementing the delegation’s wishes without adequately considering whether the arrangement was appropriate.

Weil said an internal investigation would be conducted to determine how the decision was made and who was responsible for approving the arrangements.

The controversy quickly drew criticism from French political leaders, who emphasized the country’s commitment to gender equality and the participation of women in public life.

National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet said that welcoming visitors should not require France to compromise its fundamental values.

Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire also supported an investigation into the incident and said the concerns raised by Eiffel Tower employees were legitimate.

BAPS, meanwhile, disputed the suggestion that anyone had been denied access to the Eiffel Tower during the visit.

In a statement on social media, the organization said the large size of its delegation required coordination with Eiffel Tower officials and that the visit was scheduled at the beginning of normal operating hours to minimize disruption to other visitors.

BAPS also expressed regret for any pain or inconvenience associated with the visit.

The incident has placed renewed attention on the cultural and religious practices of BAPS, a global Hindu organization within the Swaminarayan tradition.

Founded by Shastriji Maharaj in Gujarat in 1907, BAPS has since developed an international network of temples and communities across several countries.

The organization has established major temples in the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and France.

BAPS also operates a large temple in New Jersey and follows gender-separation practices in certain public and religious settings.

The organization’s swamis, who take vows of celibacy, follow strict religious guidelines governing interactions with women.

The Eiffel Tower controversy has nevertheless raised questions in France about how religious or cultural requests should be accommodated in public institutions and tourist sites.

The reopening on Tuesday restored normal visitor operations, while the internal investigation is expected to provide further details about how the arrangements for Saturday’s delegation were approved.

The episode has also prompted a broader discussion about balancing religious customs with workplace equality and France’s secular public principles.