Strike closes Eiffel Tower over exclusion of female staff for Hindu group's visit

The Eiffel Tower experienced a closure and delayed opening on Monday, September 7, 2026, following a strike by employees. The industrial action was triggered by reports that female staff members were removed or sidelined during a visit by a delegation from the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, a Hindu group. According to reports from The Times, staff members were allegedly told to be out of sight during the visit. The monument has since reopened following the protests, according to the Boston Herald and Al Jazeera, though the incident caused significant disruption to operations at the Paris landmark. Extensive coverage of the event has been provided by a wide array of international outlets, including BBC, CNN, Reuters, and Le Monde. These reports emphasize the tension surrounding the removal of women from their duties to accommodate the religious group.

France 24 and Euronews highlighted the exclusion of female staff as the primary driver for the strike. India Today and CBS News further detailed that the incident led to an official probe. The scale of the coverage suggests a high level of international scrutiny regarding labor rights and gender equality at one of the world's most visited sites. Context for this conflict centers on the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha delegation's tour of Paris. The controversy escalated when claims surfaced that female employees were hidden from the delegation. In response to the row, the Hindu group has issued an apology, as reported by DW.

Meanwhile, the Indian government has distanced itself from the situation; according to NDTV and thehindu.com, the government stated it is not involved and characterized the situation as a matter between the parties involved. Looking forward, the situation remains under official scrutiny as France opens an investigation into the claims that women were hidden from the Hindu delegation, as noted by Reuters and CBS News. Observers are monitoring the results of this probe to determine if official policies were violated. The primary focus remains on the findings of the French investigation and whether further disciplinary or systemic changes will be implemented at the monument to prevent similar occurrences during high-profile religious or diplomatic visits.