Eiffel Tower closed due to staff strike over gender discrimination claims

The Eiffel Tower remained closed on Monday, September 7, 2026, following a strike by staff members protesting against alleged gender-based discrimination. The workers expressed shock after being informed that female employees were removed from their posts or hidden from view during a visit by a delegation from the Hindu spiritual organization BAPS last Saturday.

Management at the Eiffel Tower, the SETE company, confirmed that the organization had requested a visit designed to limit interactions with female staff. SETE acknowledged that these requirements were unacceptable and should not have been accommodated. This incident coincided with a cultural event on the Seine organized by BAPS, which also inaugurated its first major temple in France, located in Bussy-Saint-Georges, on Sunday.

Staff representatives have formally denounced the professional instructions that rendered women invisible solely due to their gender. The organization involved has faced prior criticism from segments of the Indian diaspora for its conservative and nationalist stance. As of now, the monument remains closed while the consequences of these administrative decisions and the staff's reaction continue to unfold.