The Eiffel Tower in Paris was temporarily closed amid a staff protest over allegations that female employees were moved aside from their posts while on duty.
The popular tourist attraction was shut down Monday when staff staged a protest.
Union representatives at the Eiffel Tower allege the incident occurred Saturday during a private visit by a Hindu religious delegation.
They allege that as the delegation went to tour the tower, female staff were asked to leave their posts and step out of sight. Male staff were put in their place instead.
Union representative Denis Davoine told Reuters, “When the delegation came through, women were told to leave their posts so that men could take their place.”
Resentment built among staff over the following two days, and they staged a protest Monday. The Eiffel Tower was temporarily closed as a result. Reuters reported that the incident has also drawn criticism from French politicians.
The incident occurred during a visit by a delegation of about 100 members of BAPS (Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha).
SETE, the company that manages the Eiffel Tower, said arrangements had been made at the delegation’s request to limit contact with female staff. However, the company said such a condition should never have been accepted, and announced it would investigate the incident.
Authorities have apologized to staff over the incident. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire has called for a swift, full investigation.
Yael Braun-Pivet, president of France’s National Assembly, said asking female staff to step aside to please foreign visitors is not acceptable under any circumstances.
She said women are a full part of public life in France and cannot be asked to disappear.
The incident came just as BAPS inaugurated its first large Hindu temple in France, near Paris, on Sunday. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the inauguration ceremony.