Eiffel Tower closed to protest removal of female workers

The Eiffel Tower in Paris has been temporarily closed amid protests over allegations that female staff were being removed from duty. The tourist attraction was closed on Monday (September 7) following an incident two days earlier.

The Eiffel Tower was temporarily closed on Monday after female workers at the site were asked to step back during a private visit by a Hindu religious delegation on Saturday, prompting a protest by workers.

The incident, which took place around the time of a visit by a delegation of around 100 members of BASP (Bochasanbasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha), sparked outrage among activists and drew criticism from French politicians over the next two days, Reuters reported.

BAPS's first large Hindu temple was inaugurated in France near Paris on Sunday. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also present at the inauguration ceremony.
Regarding the incident of female workers being asked to leave behind, Eiffel Tower union representatives complained that when the delegation visited the tower, female workers were asked to leave their work areas and male workers were made to stand in their place.

"Women were asked to leave their workplaces when the delegation left so that men could take their places," union representative Diane Davoen told Reuters.

The Eiffel Tower's operator, SETE, admitted that arrangements were made to limit contact with female staff at the request of the delegation. However, the company said such conditions should never have been accepted. It also announced an investigation into the incident.