French authorities have launched an investigation after female employees at the Eiffel Tower were reportedly replaced by male colleagues during a visit by a Hindu religious delegation.
Around 100 people associated with the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, commonly known as BAPS, visited the famous Paris landmark on Saturday.
Diane Davoine, a representative of the staff union, said female employees were told to leave their work positions and felt humiliated by what happened. Employees later went on strike, forcing the Eiffel Tower to close on Monday as staff protested against the treatment of female workers.
BAPS is a Hindu religious movement whose beliefs trace back to the 18th century. The organisation maintains separate arrangements for men and women, including within temple activities and entrances to its buildings.
Ariel Weil, president of the company responsible for operating the Eiffel Tower, said managers had gone too far in trying to accommodate the delegation’s request without properly considering whether the arrangements were inappropriate.
Weil, who also serves as mayor of Paris Centre, described the incident as completely shocking and unacceptable in comments to French broadcaster Franceinfo on Tuesday.
He said an internal investigation would establish who was responsible for introducing the conditions placed on female employees and would ensure that a similar situation does not happen again.
According to a statement from Eiffel Tower employees reported by AFP, female workers were also instructed during Saturday’s visit not to enter or pass through certain areas while the delegation was at the monument.
Davoine said tensions increased over the weekend before employees gathered on Monday morning. She said their aims were to begin discussions with management and make sure female workers would never again be treated in such a manner by the company.
Société d’Exploitation de la tour Eiffel, known as SETE, which operates the Eiffel Tower, has previously acknowledged that the restrictions placed on female employees did not reflect the company’s values or its commitment to equality between men and women.
The investigation is now expected to determine how the arrangements were approved and who was responsible for implementing them.