The Eiffel Tower reopens after employees' strike. Women were asked to be “invisible” for a Hindu delegation

The Eiffel Tower will reopen on Tuesday, after being closed on Monday following an employees’ strike, triggered by the way a visit by a Hindu delegation to the monument in Paris was organized.

Female employees of the Eiffel Tower and contractor companies said they had been asked to leave their posts, avoid certain areas, or be replaced by men in order to limit the delegation’s interaction with women. Employees condemned the instructions, describing them as a form of marginalization and the “invisibilization” of women.

The company that administers the monument, SETE, acknowledged that the delegation had requested limiting interactions with women and admitted that these conditions should not have been accepted. The reopening was announced after a meeting between management and employees.

The Hindu organization BAPS apologized for any distress or inconvenience caused and stated that no one had been denied access to the monument. According to the organization, the visit was scheduled at the beginning of operating hours to avoid disrupting activities.

Paris Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire announced an investigation, while National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet condemned the incident and reaffirmed that women must be fully present in public life.