Company head to resign over removal of women from Eiffel Tower
The issue has escalated during the visit of BAPS leader to Paris, prompting widespread criticism.
The controversy surrounding the removal of female employees and their replacement with male staff during a visit by a Hindu religious organization, the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), at the famous Eiffel Tower has now escalated to a leadership change. The company operating the tower, SETE, has announced that its Director General Patrick Branco Ruivo will step down at the end of the year. He has been in this position since 2018.
France 24 News reported that according to the company,
an internal investigation revealed operational shortcomings and flaws in the arrangements for the religious group's visit. As a result, female employees were removed from their posts. SETE has termed this behavior 'unacceptable'. Following employee protests and political criticism regarding the incident, questions were raised about the management's accountability.
The controversy began on September 5,
when a delegation of around 100 people associated with BAPS arrived at the Eiffel Tower. This visit was part of the ceremonies related to the inauguration of a traditional Hindu stone temple near Paris. Employee organizations have alleged that during the delegation's passage through the tower, women were removed from their duties and replaced by men.
Union representative Diane Davoin told the news agency Reuters that,
female employees were asked to leave their posts while the delegation passed so that male employees could take their place. According to the employees, some women were sent to other areas, while others were replaced by male colleagues. Female employees were also instructed not to go into certain parts of the tower or pass through them during the delegation's presence. According to the union, the affected women felt humiliated.
SETE had acknowledged at the time of the incident that the Hindu delegation had requested arrangements to limit contact with women during the visit. The company also stated that such conditions should not have been accepted. Following this acknowledgment, employee dissatisfaction grew. In the following days, the controversy intensified, and on September 7, employees staged protests. They sought discussions with management and assurances that no female employee would be treated in such a manner in the future. According to Davoin, after tensions escalated over the weekend, employees decided to hold a meeting to initiate dialogue with management and prevent a recurrence of the incident.
Due to the protests, the Eiffel Tower had to be temporarily closed. Tourists arriving there were informed that the opening of the tower was delayed due to operational reasons. Davoin reported that management also apologized to the employees regarding the incident.
France's political leadership also criticized this arrangement. The President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, stated that,
it is unacceptable to force women to step back to accommodate the demands of foreign guests.
Paris's Socialist Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire described it as,
an absurd, unjust, and unacceptable decision, and ordered two separate investigations.
SETE's President Ariel Weil stated on Tuesday that,
he has called for measures and training programs to promote gender equality. According to him, preparations for the leadership change will be made under better circumstances in the coming months. According to the company's announcement, Ruivo will leave his position by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, BAPS had apologized earlier this month for any distress or inconvenience caused by the incident. The organization stated that it believes in the universal values of mutual respect and service. On its website, BAPS describes itself as a spiritual organization dedicated to improving society through Hindu values, operated by volunteers.
BAPS is an organization associated with the beliefs of Hinduism, which has close ties to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party.
It has temples in several major cities around the world, including London, Los Angeles, and Sydney. The organization's beliefs are linked to the teachings of Lord Swaminarayan. BAPS has a strict segregation policy between men and women, which includes temple activities and entrances. The organization claims that this arrangement was initiated in the interest of women.
Keeping women separate in the name of religious traditions is discriminatory. The incident at the Eiffel Tower has raised several questions about making arrangements in accordance with religious beliefs and ensuring gender equality in the workplace.