Eiffel Tower Strike 2026: Female Staff Row Explained

The Eiffel Tower, one of the world's most visited monuments, was closed to the public all day on Monday, 7 September 2026, after staff walked out in protest over the sidelining of female employees during a private visit by a Hindu delegation. The Eiffel Tower strike shut the 330-metre landmark for what the operator initially called 'operational reasons,' reigniting a national debate over religious accommodation and gender equality in France.

What happened at the Eiffel Tower?

On Saturday, 5 September 2026, roughly 100 members of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a Hindu spiritual movement, made a private visit to the tower's third floor. The visit formed part of festivities surrounding the consecration of a new BAPS Hindu temple in the Paris suburbs and followed a ceremonial boat procession on the River Seine on 3 September.

According to French daily Le Parisien, female employees of the Eiffel Tower and its suppliers were instructed to 'make themselves invisible' so the delegation could be received. Some women were asked to leave their workstations, while others were moved to separate rooms and replaced by male colleagues. On the third floor, the group was reportedly accompanied exclusively by male staff. This is not the first time the Eiffel Tower visitor closures have disrupted the landmark, but the gender dimension sets this incident apart.

Why did Eiffel Tower staff go on strike?

Workers represented by the CGT trade union condemned the instructions, arguing that sidelining and replacing female staff violated fundamental workplace principles. The tower's operating company, SETE, later acknowledged that the delegation had requested limiting 'interactions with women' during the visit and admitted these conditions 'should not have been accepted.'

Union representative Diane Davoine told reporters that women were told to leave their workstations so men could take their places as the delegation passed. In France, women are fully present in public life. No one tells them to become invisible, National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet said, capturing the anger that drove the one-day shutdown.

Political reaction and investigation

Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire called the exclusion 'unacceptable' and launched an investigation 'as soon as possible,' saying that gender equality does not stop at the foot of historic monuments. Equality Minister Aurore Bergé and prominent politicians including Marine Le Pen and Gabriel Attal also condemned the move.

Former Prime Minister Michel Barnier wrote: In France, foreign traditions do not dictate to women how they should dress or behave in public space. Women are not hidden. They are not ignored. They are respected and their freedom is defended. The episode has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over religious accommodation workplace policies and secularism in French institutions.

Impact and implications

BAPS denied requesting that women be removed, saying its visit had been arranged at opening time to avoid disruption because of the delegation's size. The organisation insisted no one was denied access and apologised to anyone who felt hurt. SETE also apologised to staff and said it would face the consequences.

The tower was expected to reopen on Tuesday, 8 September, but the controversy is unlikely to fade quickly. Legal and political observers note that the incident tests the boundaries of France gender equality law in public spaces, where the principle of laïcité and the rights of women are both fiercely protected.

FAQ

Why was the Eiffel Tower closed on Monday?

The Eiffel Tower closed all day on Monday, 7 September 2026, because staff went on strike to protest the sidelining and replacement of female employees during a private Hindu delegation visit.

Which group was involved in the Eiffel Tower incident?

The delegation was from BAPS, the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, a Hindu spiritual movement that was in France for the consecration of a new temple near Paris.

What did the Eiffel Tower operator say?

Operating company SETE admitted the delegation had asked to limit 'interactions with women' and said these conditions 'should not have been accepted,' apologising to staff.

Will the Eiffel Tower reopen?

The Eiffel Tower was expected to reopen to visitors on Tuesday, 8 September 2026, after the one-day closure.

Has BAPS responded to the allegations?

BAPS denied requesting that women be removed, said no one was denied access, and apologised for any offence caused.