The head of the company operating the Eiffel Tower, Patrick Branco Ruivo, will step down at the end of the year following an incident in September when female staff were excluded during a visit by a Hindu religious group. An independent investigation uncovered a series of management failures, prompting Eiffel Tower staff to strike and drawing criticism from French politicians.

According to the company, on September 5, female employees were instructed not to come into contact with a delegation from Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a Hindu religious organization. The investigation found that operational failures led to the exclusion of female employees. The company described the situation as "unacceptable."

BAPS denied asking for female employees to be removed or hidden during the visit. "The religious practices of our monks were explained to the Eiffel Tower's management in advance. These are personal spiritual commitments, which our monks observe without seeking to impose them on others. They do not require women to be excluded from the places they visit," BAPS said. BAPS is an international religious and civic organization within the Swaminarayan tradition of Hinduism. The delegation was in the region for celebrations connected with the inauguration of a traditional Hindu stone temple.

The incident led Eiffel Tower employees to strike on September 7, forcing the landmark to close for a day. SETE chair Ariel Weil said the company would introduce measures and training programs aimed at promoting gender equality. A separate protocol department will also be established following the investigation.

The 330-meter (1,083-foot) Eiffel Tower attracts around 7 million visitors annually. The incident has sparked widespread debate in France about the balance between religious customs and secular values.

Source: www.dw.com