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Eiffel Tower shut by staff strike over female workers being moved for religious visit
bbc.com • • world
Key Points:
- The Eiffel Tower was closed on Monday after staff went on strike in protest against female workers being removed during a visit by a Hindu religious group, Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS).
- Women staff were asked to vacate their workstations to make way for men during the BAPS delegation's visit, which caused humiliation and anger among employees, leading to the strike.
- The company operating the Eiffel Tower, Société d'Exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE), acknowledged that the delegation requested limited interactions with women and stated that such conditions were unacceptable and against their values of gender equality.
- BAPS apologized for any inconvenience caused and emphasized their commitment to mutual respect, while Paris authorities, including the mayor, promised an investigation and reaffirmed the importance of gender equality.
- French political figures, including former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, condemned the incident, stressing that no culture or belief should dictate women's roles in France.
