The Eiffel Tower was closed on Monday following a strike by employees protesting an incident where female staff were reportedly asked to leave their posts to accommodate male members of a visiting religious delegation. The Société d'Exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE), the operating company, confirmed that the delegation had requested the visit be organized to minimize "interactions with women." Manaagement has since apologized, stating that the conditions should not have been accepted and are not in line with the company's values or the principles of equality between men and women. The SETE president, Ariel Weil, called the practice "clearly not an acceptable practice" and reiterated the tower's commitment to republican values and gender equality. The incident involved a delegation of approximately 100 people linked to the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) group who visited the landmark on Saturday. A union representative for the staff, Diane Davoine, told Reuters that women were told to move from their places of work to make way for men, causing humiliation among employees. Davoine added that tensions escalated over the weekend, leading to the employees' decision to strike on Monday to initiate dialogue with management and ensure such treatment of women does not recur.
The Mayor of Paris has announced that an investigation will be launched into the events. The Eiffel Tower remains a prominent symbol of Paris and a major tourist attraction, drawing millions of visitors annually. Its operation is managed by SETE, which is responsible for ensuring the safety and visitor experience at the monument.