Eiffel Tower shuts after female staff allegedly sidelined during Hindu group's visit - timesofindia.indiatimes.com

**Eiffel Tower Closed After Staff Walkout Over Alleged Gender Discrimination**

Paris – The Eiffel Tower was forced to suspend operations on Thursday after a contingent of its employees staged a walkout, protesting claims that female staff members were deliberately removed from duty to accommodate a visiting Hindu cultural delegation. The strike began in the early afternoon and quickly escalated, prompting the tower’s management to halt visitor access for safety reasons. Workers, represented by the French trade union CGT, asserted that the decision to reassign women to non‑frontline roles was made without consultation and violated the site’s internal gender‑equality policies.

The incident has sparked a wider debate on workplace discrimination and the handling of religious events in public venues. The Hindu delegation, which was scheduled to perform a series of cultural presentations, was reportedly allowed to occupy the observation decks while several women, including ticketing and security personnel, were redirected to back‑office duties. Tower officials initially defended the move as a logistical necessity, but later issued an apology acknowledging “a possible miscommunication” and pledged to review the staffing protocol. The French Ministry of Labour has launched an inquiry, and the Paris mayor’s office confirmed that an independent commission will examine whether labor laws were breached.

Union leaders have called for a thorough investigation and for the reinstatement of the affected employees, warning that further disruptions could occur if the grievances are not addressed. Meanwhile, the Eiffel Tower, which attracts more than seven million visitors annually, is expected to reopen tomorrow pending the outcome of the safety assessment. The episode adds to a growing series of labor actions across France this year, reflecting heightened sensitivities around gender equity and religious accommodation in the workplace.