Eiffel Tower Chief Resigns: Female Staff Exclusion Scandal

Patrick Branco Ruivo, director general of SETE, the company that operates the Eiffel Tower, has announced he will step down at the end of 2026 after an internal investigation confirmed female staff were excluded during a 5 September 2026 visit by a Hindu religious delegation. The Eiffel Tower female staff exclusion scandal has sparked a national debate over secularism, workplace discrimination, and gender equality in France.

What happened during the BAPS visit to the Eiffel Tower?

On 5 September 2026, around 100 members of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a global Hindu movement, visited the monument to mark the opening of a new temple near Paris. Female employees said they were told to avoid certain areas, leave their posts, and were replaced by male colleagues. SETE later acknowledged that the delegation had requested to limit “interactions with women”, conditions the company said should not have been accepted.

The incident has drawn comparisons with broader workplace discrimination cases in France, where secular employers must balance religious accommodation with equal treatment obligations.

Investigation findings and Ruivo's resignation

SETE launched an independent inquiry after French newspaper Le Parisien revealed the arrangement. Investigators concluded that female staff were sidelined because of “operational flaws and shortcomings”, describing the situation as “unacceptable”. Ruivo, director general since 2018, wrote in a letter to staff obtained by Le Monde that he did not order the exclusion but acknowledged the women were not present during the visit and accepted responsibility. He will remain in post until the end of 2026 to ensure a smooth transition for the holiday season.

SETE's board accepted Ruivo's resignation and praised his decision as responsible.

Strike, political reaction and BAPS apology

On 7 September, staff staged a one-day strike that closed the monument in protest. The CGT union said women were “sidelined, replaced and made invisible because of their sex”. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire called the conditions unacceptable, and French Gender Equality Minister Aurore Bergé said gender equality in France is “non-negotiable”. Marine Le Pen also condemned the incident. BAPS apologised but denied requesting that women be hidden or excluded, citing monks' religious vows that forbid contact with women.

The row has also revived debates over French laïcité and the limits of religious accommodation in public institutions.

Impact on French secularism and workplace equality

SETE chair Ariel Weil has called for reforms including a dedicated protocol department and mandatory gender equality training. The case highlights the tension between accommodating religious practices and upholding France's strict secular values, and may prompt new guidelines for public monuments hosting religious delegations. The controversy also drew attention in India, where BAPS is linked to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, and prompted discussions about gender norms in Hindu religious practice. French officials reiterated that public institutions must uphold the principle of laïcité, which guarantees neutrality toward religion while protecting equal rights. Observers say the fallout echoes gender equality legislation debates across the European Union.

FAQ: Eiffel Tower female staff exclusion

Why did the Eiffel Tower director resign?

Patrick Branco Ruivo resigned after an internal inquiry found female staff were excluded during a BAPS Hindu delegation visit on 5 September 2026, an outcome he called unacceptable and for which he accepted responsibility.

What is BAPS and why did it visit the Eiffel Tower?

BAPS is the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, a global Hindu organisation. About 100 members visited to mark the opening of a new temple near Paris.

Were female employees asked to hide?

Female workers reported being told to leave posts, avoid certain areas, and were replaced by male colleagues. SETE admitted the delegation requested limited interactions with women, conditions it should not have accepted.

What changes is SETE implementing?

SETE chair Ariel Weil announced a dedicated protocol department and gender equality training to prevent similar incidents.