India
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Eiffel Tower closes after women staff sidelined
The Indian Express··10 Sept
The Eiffel Tower closed on Monday after female workers were asked to limit interactions during weekend BAPS delegation visit, prompting staff protest. Union representative Diane Davoine said women were asked to leave workstations so men could take their places. SETE runs the tower receiving nearly 7 million visitors a year. It accepted conditions it later said violated equality values.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire backed the strike, calling exclusion of women workers unacceptable.
- French Equality Minister Aurore Bergé said no religion is above the laws of the Republic.
- SETE president Ariel Weil said an investigation will draw necessary conclusions.
What's Happening
- A BAPS-linked delegation made a private visit to the tower on Saturday.
- The union condemned instructions that sidelined, replaced and rendered female employees invisible by gender.
- BAPS said the visit was arranged at opening hours to avoid disrupting others given delegation size.
Management's admission
- SETE acknowledged conditions limiting interactions with women were not in line with its equality values.
- Davoine said management apologised to workers after tensions mounted over the weekend.
- Grégoire said gender equality must apply everywhere in Paris, including historic monuments.
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