Eiffel Tower Closed As Staff Strike Over Female Workers Asked To Step Aside For Hindu Group

The Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors on Monday after staff went on strike over the treatment of female employees during a visit by a Hindu religious delegation, according to workers and the landmark’s management.

The delegation’s visit took place on the same day as a cultural boat procession on the Seine organised by the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) spiritual movement.

Eiffel Tower employees criticised what they described as instructions that resulted in female workers being removed from positions or replaced by male colleagues during the delegation’s visit. Staff said they were deeply concerned by what they called an attempt to make women “invisible” because of their sex.