Eiffel Tower Shuts Amid Staff Protest Over Alleged Sidelining of Women
The Eiffel Tower experienced a temporary closure on Monday due to a staff strike. The protest was sparked by allegations that female employees were moved or 'made invisible' during a private visit by a Hindu religious group, leading to accusations of humiliation.
W
World Desk
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Eiffel Tower Shut by Staff Protest
Paris, France – The Eiffel Tower, a global landmark, was closed to visitors on Monday after employees launched a strike protesting the alleged removal or ‘sidelining’ of female staff members during a recent visit by a Hindu religious delegation. Union representatives described the incident as ‘humiliating’ for the female employees involved, prompting immediate calls for an investigation.
Multiple news outlets, including the BBC, Al Jazeera, and CNN, reported on the closure, citing staff outrage over the circumstances surrounding the Hindu group's visit. According to Al Jazeera, the religious delegation had reportedly requested that 'interactions with women' be limited during its tour of the iconic structure. This request allegedly led to female staff being asked to relocate or become less visible, sparking a walkout by employees.
Watch: Eiffel Tower closed in row over women removed for Hindu group | DW News — DW News
Allegations of 'Sidelining' and Humiliation
The protest underscored a deeper controversy, with employees and union officials expressing significant distress over the reported treatment of their female colleagues. Euronews.com highlighted that female employees were allegedly 'made invisible' for the duration of the visit. A union representative, as reported by BBC News, stated that an investigation into the incident would be launched, emphasizing the severe impact on the affected staff.
An investigation will be launched into the incident, which left female employees "humiliated," a union representative says.
2017.01.21 womensmarchparis 03 (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
News sources such as NDTV and The New Indian Express corroborated the account of female staff being 'sidelined' during the visit. The Hindu group involved in the incident has been identified by several outlets, including NewsCord, TheWire.in, and indiatoday.in, as BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha). DW.com later reported that the Hindu group apologized over the Eiffel Tower row.
Management Apology and Reopening
Following the widespread media coverage and the staff protest, management of the Eiffel Tower reportedly issued an apology. The New Indian Express specifically noted that the tower reopened after management offered an apology for the incident. The strike effectively halted operations at the popular tourist attraction, disrupting visitor plans and drawing international attention to the dispute.
The incident has spurred discussions across various media platforms, from The Economic Times questioning 'What really happened in Paris?' to Storyboard18 analyzing the specifics of the 'Eiffel Tower shut after women employees sidelined during BAPS visit.' The unified reporting from numerous global news portals highlights the seriousness with which the allegations of gender discrimination in the workplace were received.
Eiffel Tower (6002264876) (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
International Media Coverage
The story garnered extensive international coverage, with reports appearing in media outlets from France 24 and Le Monde.fr in France, to The Telegraph and The Times of India, underscoring the global interest in both the Eiffel Tower and issues of workplace respect and religious accommodation. The incident at one of the world's most recognizable landmarks sparked a debate about the balance between visitor requests and employee rights.
