Eiffel Tower closes after staff strike over female employee restrictions for Hindu delegation

The Eiffel Tower was forced to shut its doors on Monday after employees staged a strike to protest what they described as the “sidelining” and “replacement” of female staff during a recent private visit by a Hindu delegation. The tower’s operator, Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), said the delegation had asked that the visit be arranged in a manner that limited “interactions with women,” prompting concerns among workers that gender‑based restrictions were being imposed on site personnel.

Union representatives said the strike was intended to highlight the perceived discrimination and to demand that the landmark’s staffing policies be applied uniformly, regardless of the cultural or religious preferences of visitors. SETE confirmed that the closure was temporary while negotiations continued, and it pledged to review the incident to ensure compliance with French labor and anti‑discrimination laws. The tower is expected to reopen once an agreement is reached with the striking staff.