Eiffel Tower shut by staff protest after female workers moved for religious visit
Staff at the Eiffel Tower went on strike after management complied with a request from a religious delegation to remove female workers from their posts. The operating company has since apologized, stating that the incident violated their values of gender equality.
Why it matters
The incident highlights ongoing tensions between accommodating religious requests and upholding institutional commitments to gender equality in the workplace.
Image source, Reuters Image caption, A sign said the opening of the tower was delayed for "operational reasons"
The Eiffel Tower was closed on Monday after staff went on strike over female workers being removed for the visit of a Hindu religious group, workers and management said.
A delegation of around 100 people linked to the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) group visited the landmark in the French capital on Saturday.
Staff union representative Diane Davoine says as they arrived at the monument, women were told to move.
"During the visit of this delegation, women were asked to leave their places of work in order to place men there," she told Reuters. Davoine also said management had since apologised to workers over the incident.
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